Linn & Julie's Blog

  

We're homeless... LS
01-27-2008
We've been home for just over a week. In some ways it feels like we never left and this past year was just a dream. Today, reality struck as we watched our home on wheels drive away. Yes, I sold our coach to a dealership in Lubbock, TX. Standing on the front porch of my parents' home, we fought back the tears, shared a hug and officially closed that chapter of our lives. With no time to ponder the past we jumped in the car and began looking for a place to live. I'd rather wake up at the crack of dawn and drive 12 hours straight than go through the process of buying a house. Julie tells me it is my decision and then argues with me about my decision. The roof of my parents home is starting to look very attractive. I suppose it will take time to get settled, but the truth is, I'm in no hurry. The longer it takes to return to real life the better. To be faced with the challenges and decisions regarding how to live our lives with purpose, to be content with less than I can afford and fight the constant battle of materialism is more daunting in the dailiness of real life than it is as a nomad. Right now, today, I'm not sure what will come of this website. I suspect we will continue to make additional entries from time to time. For therapeutic purposes more that any other. If I can communicate one thing, I want you to know how grateful I am for the experience, more than words can say. I highly recommend it. Also, I am grateful to all of you who registered and traveled with us. The site had over 41,000 hits and 227 registered users. Granted, most of those hits were from the grandparents. Old friendships renewed and new friendships made is part of what made the journey so special. In fact, a guy I played golf with while in Branson, MO is coming through Austin and we are meeting for breakfast next week. Additionally, we are traveling to Phoenix next month to attend a conference because of a husband and wife we met in Breckenridge, CO. It is those relationships, in addition to the thousands of pictures we took that will keep the memory of the past year fresh in our minds. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we look for a place to live and adjust to real life. If there is anyting I can pray for, please know that it is an honor to bend a knee, on your bahalf, before our Savior.

We're all done... LS
01-19-2008
We could not have picked a worse time to sneak back into Austin. It is the peak of the cedar allergy season and during the coldest weather of the year. Plus, I hadn't been back in Texas two hours and got bit by a fire ant! I told Julie we should just keep going and come back in March, but she just laughed dismissively. Yes, we pulled into my parents' driveway this afternoon, where we will stay until we find more permanent quarters. I am experiencing a mixed bag of emotions: Grateful for the experience, sad it is over, glad to be home and dread that I have to return to real life. In addition to our poor timing, our efforts to surprise our friends failed when our pastor called and his first two questions were, where are you and when will you be home. Being unable to lie, (to my pastor) I had to tell him we are in Kerrville and will be home on Saturday. His wife and daughters were in the room, so I am sure we will not surprise anyone when we arrive at church on Sunday. Nevertheless, we are all excited to see our friends and see what God has in store for us this year.

Back to where it all began... LS
01-16-2008
Today we pulled into Koyote Ranch, the first campground of our trip when we started this adventure on March 5th of 2007. The mixture of emotions is as varied as the sights we have seen. We purposefully returned to the starting line to allow for a few days of reflection, contemplation and, for me, mourning that it has ended. Yes, I am sad, and for me, sadness overshadows all other emotions right now. I am grateful, so grateful for the experience, all that we saw, and the memories we made, but for the next few days I get to mourn. I will also consider what this year has meant to us as a family, what it means for the rest of our live and how we should live everyday going forward. It my hope that we be able to live more simply, more purposefully, to do a better job of reflecting Christ instead of the world. Below is the entry I made on March 14th last year. I think it does an excellent job of describing what this experience has been about. March 14, 2007. I turned 42 years old today. I suspect like most men around this age I have done my share of self evaluation. If I am being honest, this year-long trek is largely a result of that evaluation. A culmination of realizations about life pushed me to the point where doing something out of the ordinary seemed easier than continuing in the ordinary. I donít like the term ìmid-life crisisî, but there is a sense of crisis when a man realizes his life is, at best, half over, his children are growing up too fast and his opportunity to make a significant impact is diminishing. In addition to the time and age issues, while Iíve always understood I could not take what I had accumulated with me to eternity, what the AlphaGraphics experience taught me is that I could lose it all before I die. Whether by economic conditions, health or natural disaster, all that we hold dear can be lost in an instant. Faced with that reality, I didnít like how the possibility of losing material possessions affected me. Through a process over several months, which I described to Julie as God scrubbing me with steel wool, I determined I would not hold possessions so dear. They bound my heart, distracted me from my purpose and give a false sense of meaning. Why would I let temporal things be so important? My skin is still raw from the scrubbing, but I think this year is about healing and realigning what is important and what is not. This journey is sort of a crash course in learning how to live with less. Granted it has only been 11 days, but it is really remarkable how little we really need. Please donít misunderstand, Iím not taking a vow of poverty, nor do I believe that is where God is leading. I do believe, however, that my heart has been where my treasure is, so this year will be about moving my treasure to heaven so my heart will follow. What I am coming to realize is that moving my treasure to heaven so my heart will follow is a life long process.

The Next Adventure - JKS
01-12-2008
We sure had some good times together over the Christmas holidays in Port St. Lucie, FL. Linn surprised me with a day of pampering at a local spa. Then we headed back to the panhandle, rather than south to the Keys. Once again in our very same spot at Venture Out in Panama City, the kids were excited to be in a familiar place. And it is such a beautiful spot. I havenít blogged lately, because we havenít really been anywhere new. Secondly, weíve gotten back into a good school routine. And better yet, I have enjoyed reading some good books in the evenings, a rare luxury in ìregular life,î due to busy schedules and always being on the go. I have read Eragon, an amazingly well-written story, authored by a former home schooler, who was 15 when he began writing the book. It is now a major motion picture. I also read The Shining Company and A Separate Peace, two of Kaylinnís school books. I read through A Broken Blade with Madison while helping her write a paper about the bookís theme. After those, I couldnít put down Uncle Tomís Cabin, which I bought way back in Gettysburg. I found out why Harriet Beecher Stowe made such an impact during that horrible time of Americaís history and greatly helped raise awareness of the evils of slavery. And I couldnít help but draw the parallel to the horrible reality of abortion. I pray that one day we will look back and wonder how we could have allowed the unthinkable to occur in the name of a womanís ìchoice.î Who will be the voices that cry out on behalf of the innocent ones who have no voice? Iím so thankful for those who are in the trenches at the crisis pregnancy centers, helping young ladies one by one to choose life. And finally, I have just begun to read another of Kaylinnís books from school this year, the classic, Jane Eyre. While in Panama City we had some very mild winter days in the low 80ís and took pleasure in a few more heavenly hours at the beach, as well as three lovely sunsets. Now weíre in Perdido Key on the Florida side of the FL/AL border. Our days here have consisted of more education and a day of exploring the area, shopping for souvenir t-shirts, and seeing Alvin and the Chipmunks. Weíre all very aware of the fact that in a couple short weeks this journey will end and a new one will begin. Weíve been searching for a new home over the Internet and following the election coverage on T.V. Like most Texans, we are also hoping the Cowboys get their game back on tomorrow and go onto win the Superbowl! The kids are counting down the days to American Idol, and Hudson keeps talking about going to ìChaseís houseî (the Larsens in Austin). As sad as we will all be that the trip is over, my heart will treasure the memories forever. This adventure has taught us so many things, and Iím sure weíll continue to reap the benefits of our time together for years to come. I think back to the early days, when I almost let my fear prevent us from going, and now I know all the things our family would have missed out on had we not taken this journey. Iím so thankful to God for gently nudging me forward in faith. I will never have to say, ìRemember the year we ALMOST bought a motorhome and traveled across America together?î We DID it! And Godís hand of providence led us all the way. Like John the apostle, I can say, ìWe have seen His glory!î From mountain vistas to peaceful valleys, from sandy, red rock formations to brilliant yellow, orange, and red landscapes, from sunrises to starry skies, from massive forests to quiet streams, from sea to shining sea, God has revealed His splendor and majesty. Everywhere we looked, God was there. But the awesome thing about Him is that you donít have to be out in His creation to experience His presence. There is a running joke we have in our family. I love Christmas music, and I like to start playing it in September. I believe the music is so good and deserves way more playtime than it gets. But Daddy doesnít like for me to play it so early. Well, when the season is past, away go the wondrous lyrics and melodies until next year. However, a few straggling songs have remained on Linnís ìZuneî player and occasionally pop up in the mix of regular Christian tunes. When they do, the rest of us try to see how long the song will play before Linn realizes itís a Christmas song, if ever, and forwards to the next song. My point is Christ has come to stay! Every day is Christmas in our hearts. Through faith in His death and resurrection, He has placed His Holy Spirit IN ME (WOW!!!) as a deposit and a seal, GUARANTEEING what is to come ñ ETERNAL LIFE with HIM! So I carry His very presence around with me wherever I go. Stephen Curtis Chapman aptly called the Christian life ìThe Great Adventure.î Thus, even though we will soon settle back to life in Austin, I know with Christ there is much adventure yet to come. I can hardly wait!

December 31, 2007... LS
12-31-2007
December 31, 2007, the last day of another year, and what has been gained? The unappreciated miracle of 365 sunrises and sunsets have passed, only to occur with thoughtless expectation another 365 times in 2008. For me, it has been a banner year, if for no other reason than I have been witness to more sunrises and sunsets this year than all other years combined. Viewing the ever changing transition from night to day, and day to night, only scratches the surface of why this year will stand alone as the best year of my life. Perhaps those of you who have vicariously traveled with us these past months can appreciate why. Should I ever get around to writing a book about our experiences in 2007, I will title it The Best Year of Our Lives, and, without a doubt, so far, it has been. I have accumulated a treasure chest of memories, made more precious by being able to share them with the five people dearest to me: my wife and four children. What has been gained? Proof that six people can live in 400 square feet, share one bathroom for nearly a year and love each other more deeply than we did at the start. An experience so unique that every conversation we have, for years to come, will cause us to recall some event, some place, and some fact that will make us smile with the fondest of reminiscence. What has been gained? No less than the merciful wooing of Godís Spirit to Himself, making me simultaneously content to be in His arms and dissatisfied at knowing I have not scratched the surface of understanding His love. The realization that the sins of my darkest heart, too numerous to list and shameful to disclose, make me utterly unworthy, but His amazing grace saves me. Even my best deeds and noblest intentions separate me from my maker for eternity, yet Jesus covers me. What has been gained? The understanding that my darkest hours, that the worst circumstances of my life were divinely appointed to bring me to this place. In the midst of turmoil I dreaded each day, but today I rejoice for the experience to witness my loving God show Himself faithful again and again. What has been gained? The realization that you are the brave ones; to face the routine of each day with a smile and with the purpose of influencing those around you, who see you every day, for Christ. I suppose it took some courage to put our plans into motion, but the real courage comes in living ìnormalî, everyday life with purpose. Upon our return, may I be so brave. As best as I know how, I face the end of this season in our lives. With my wifeís hand in mine and our children in tow, I feel the strength to face the next chapter, the next adventure. My heart aches as I turn the final page, and, unable to see clearly what lies ahead, with some anxiety, I am excited that I can trust God to show Himself faithful again and again.

D-Day - JKS
12-24-2007
A few years back, I read a book titled Wild at Heart, by John Eldredge. Something he wrote near the end of the book made a huge impact on me about the significance of Christmas, and I havenít forgotten it. I wanted to share it with you this Christmas. It's called "Behind the Scenes." ìMost of you probably have a Nativity scene that you take out over the holidays and place on a mantel or coffee table. Most of these scenes share a regular cast of characters: shepherds, wise men, maybe a few barnyard animals, Joseph, Mary, and, of course, the baby Jesus. Yes, ours has an angel or two and I imagine yours does as well. But thatís about as far as the supernatural gets. What is the overall mood of the scene? Donít they all have a sort of warm, pastoral atmosphere to them, a quiet, intimate feel like the one you get when you sing Silent Night or Away in a Manger? And while thatís all very true, it is also very deceiving, because it is not a full picture of whatís really going on. For that, you have to turn to Revelation 12. ëA great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepterÖAnd there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down ñ that ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.í (vv. 1-5, 7-9) As Philip Yancey says, I have never seen this version of the story on a Christmas card. Yet it is the truer story, the rest of the picture of what was going on that fateful night. Yancey calls the birth of Christ the Great Invasion, ëa daring raid by the ruler of the forces of good into the universeís seat of evil.í Spiritually speaking, this is no silent night. It is D-Day. ëIt is almost beyond my comprehension too, and yet I accept that this notion is the key to understanding Christmas and is, in fact, the touchstone of my faith. As a Christian I believe that we live in parallel worlds. One world consists of hills and lakes and barns and politicians and shepherds watching their flocks by night. The other consists of angels and sinister forcesí and the whole spiritual realm. The child is born, the woman escapes and the story continues like this: ëThen the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring ñ those who obey Godís commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.í (Revelation 12:17) Behind the world and the flesh is an even more deadly enemyÖone we rarely speak of and are even much less ready to resist. Yet this is where we live now ñ on the front lines of a fierce spiritual war that is to blame for most of the casualties you see around you and most of the assault against you. Itís time we prepared ourselves for it.î The evidence is all around us. Itís why some are doing everything they can to stomp out any mention of faith in the public realm and why many now only wish us ìHappy Holidays.î We need to get back to the heart of Christmas and make it more about Christ than the parties, the shopping, the baking, the rushing around, trying to get everything done before December 25. As a very wise pastor told us a few weeks ago, we need to ìbe still.î May God give us the grace to intentionally set aside Christmas as a HOLY day, instead of just another ìholiday.î May His Spirit fill you with peace and great joy, because Jesus has come to be Immanuel, God With Us!

Surprises in Orlando - JKS
12-23-2007
Our family loves Disney World. What family wouldnít? This is our third trip, and it was a week filled with much amazement, thrills, and top-notch entertainment. This was our first time to visit the theme parks during the Christmas season, and Disney did not disappoint us. We chose our week well, December 10-17, and the lines for the rides were not as long as we feared, having been during the first week of October the last time we came. Thatís one of the beauties of home schooling; we can go places when other kids are in school. The loudspeakers piped Christmas music throughout the parks ñ not just generic songs, but Christian Christmas carols as well. We chose Epcot as our first destination after arriving in Orlando, because Stephen Curtis Chapman narrated a candlelight processional Christmas choral program. The lines to get into the auditorium were so long, we barely made it in to get a seat. I was filled with joy to hear Stephen say, ìWeíve all heard the story many times before, but I want you to listen tonight like youíre hearing the words for the very first time.î And he proceeded to read the account of Jesusí birth, straight from Luke, chapter two! The massive choir sang gloriously, and the entire story was told, from the angelís announcement to the shepherds to the visit of the Magi. Two of the songs I recognized from Bannockburn Baptist Churchís Singing Christmas Tree, and I wanted to sing along. They closed with the Halleluiah Chorus, and my heart rejoiced that Jesus came to Disney that night, and three times every night throughout the rest of the month! Linn and I both commented how glad we were that we got to have such a wonderful celebration through music in place of our usual annual event at our church in Austin. Another night, we received a similar blessing, as we went to hear the Harlem Gospel Choir from New York City. Now that was church, plain and simple, right in the middle of Disneyís Hollywood Studios. As a parent, it brings such joy to watch your children experience the delightful world of Disney. Several times Hudson jumped up and down in sheer excitement. He walked the entire time in all four parks and never complained. The only time we got him a stroller was for Mickeyís Very Merry Christmas Party from 7 p.m. to midnight, after we had been in Magic Kingdom from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All our hiking out west must have built up his stamina. I was especially proud of Madison and Bronson when they decided to try the new Mount Everest Rollercoaster in the Animal Kingdom. Madison didnít particularly enjoy it, and Iím not quite sure Bronson would ride it again if we bribed him. One thing is for sure: both of them were adamant about not getting on the Tower of Terror at MGM. Hudson met the height requirement and wanted to ride it. I wonít be surprised if he never trusts me again. He was quite terrified, and when we got off, he said, ìThat was a spooky Happy Halloween ride.î He never got tired of Disney World, though. Every night he would ask if we were going in the next day, too. On Sunday afternoon he said he wanted to go back to Disney World for just one more day. Sunday was actually Kaylinnís 14th birthday. We went to First Baptist Church of Orlando, where I was blown away by the magnitude of the production. The monstrous pipe organ and orchestra played a prelude, and the choir, dressed festively in matching outfits, childrenís choir, and dancers performed a few Christmas songs. We joined in on a carol medley, and the pastorís sermon reminded us that true joy is not found in packages and bows or in circumstances, but in abiding in Christ Jesus. In the middle of his message, the pastor showed a video clip of Dr. Seussís cartoon, ìHow the Grinch Stole Christmas,î in illustration of the point that Christmas is more than all the ìstuff.î Hudson liked that part of the sermon! It was the part of the movie when the Grinch waits to hear the sad cries of the town when they realize all their gifts have been stolen, but they go out to the center of the town and sing anyway. May your hearts sing for joy this Christmas, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, because God came once to the manger, a second time to your hearts when you received Him by faith, and He will come yet a third time to bring us into His presence forever! After the service, we went home and told Kaylinn she was going to have a boring birthday, because now we were done with Disney World. But we surprised her that evening with a dinner/theater show called Arabian Knights. We all enjoyed an evening of entertainment as the riders and horses performed all sorts of tricks. Our long week of excitement was over, and we found a beautiful place of rest in our Melbourne RV Resort. Our site there overlooked the Indian River, where we enjoyed amazing sunsets and watched the pelicans and other sea birds hover over the water and hunt for fish. What a great place to unwind, be still, and prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Five days of Disney... LS
12-15-2007
Five days of Disney World has me Mickeyed out. Though the kids would never admit it, I can tell they are tired too. We arrived in Orlando, Kissimmee to be exact, on Monday. Being unable to resist the lure of the Magic Kingdom, we went in that afternoon and stayed until closing. Returning the next day when the gates opened, we left for dinner and a couple of hours of rest, we returned at 7:00 pm for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It was a separate ticketed event with special parades, dances, free hot chocolate and cookies and a spectacular fireworks show. No one does it better than Disney. Taking Wednesday to recover, we spent most of the day by the pool. On Thursday we went to Disney-MGM Studio Park from open to close at 6:00 pm. Not having our fill, we went to Epcot until it closed. In a rush to get on "Soarin'", we hurried over to that attraction. Knowing that the section of the park closed at 7:00, we were not sure if we would make it. We arrived at 6:30, but there was a 45 minute wait to board. As we began to enter the line, a cast member asked to measure Hudson to make sure he is tall enough; that pause allowed another cast member to pull us all out of line to ask us where we are from. We told him Austin, Texas, and then asked me our last name. He then told us as part of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" he was going to take us to the front of the line and put us in "First Class" seats. Just before boarding he announced us to all the of the passengers and asked them to welcome the Strock family from Austin, Texas. Obviously, we were thrilled with the unexpected, special treatment. The next night, Friday, we went to MGM Studios. We enjoyed the day, and before entering the last show for the day, we stopped for ice cream and again we were unexpectedly surprised that Mickey would pay our ice cream bill. It made for a great illustration of God's undeserved mercy as Kaylinn prayed that night, thanking God for the free ice cream and His free love. Reluctantly, I agreed to go in again today, on a Saturday, to catch a few rides we missed. We caught them all, and afterward, we were all eager to leave the park. Tomorrow is is Kaylinn's 14th birthday, making me feel very old, but grateful for the young lady she is becoming. We will go to church, rest and take her to an "Arabian Night" dinner show before moving on to Melbourne, Florida on Monday. Tuesday, we have tickets to a Jim Brickman concert. We will enjoy Christmas on the Florida coast, travel to the Keys for some more beach time and then begin working our way home. Home, where a new journey will begin. Perhaps not as adventurous as what we have experienced these past months, but and a journey nonetheless.

Jekyll Island... LS
12-08-2007
Christmas came a little early for us when my parents surprised our kids by meeting us in Jekyll Island, GA, with a car load of presents. The kids were thrilled to see their grandparents and to get a couple new toys. Jekyll is part of Georgia's Golden Isles near Brunswick, where my folk grow up, met and married. Having spent a fair amount of time in this area as a kid, it is vaguely familiar. Last night we had dinner at the Buccaneer Club with several extended family members, where for $16.00 you can order a plate of fried shrimp that you'll be eating on for a week. Dad and I played golf at Pine Lakes, which is a nice, but typical tree-lined golf course for this area. On Sunday we plan to attend church at St. Simmons Community Church and see more family before preparing to leave for Orlando and Disney World on Monday. Almost daily I receive email updates from Crested Butte, letting me know how much snow they are getting. 52" in the last 48 hours. I half-seriously tell Julie when we are done with Disney we are going to high-tail it to Colorado for a bit of skiing before we head home. I don't think I have that much travel left in me. After Disney I think I will be ready for home, but we'll see.

December 1st... LS
12-01-2007
It is the first day of December. Back in March when we began this journey I could scarce believe we would make it this far. Now that we are here, I can scarce believe we left Austin nine months ago. With so much behind us and, comparatively, so little before us I find it a challenge to enjoy the moment for preparation of life back home. With so many decisions to be made and little reward of adventure or excitement, I grow resentful that this season of our lives is ending. God continues to speak to my heart, prompting me to be joyful, grateful and committed to all He has taught me these past months, resolving that his year must count for something more than great memories of experiences and sights. To return to life as it was before would be a waste and diminish this trip to nothing more than a vacation. I know today, on December 1st, we are all different, better, closer to each other and to our Father in heaven. Our children love each other, are respectful of others, worship God and honor their parents. I fear, perhaps more than all else, that a year from now there will be little evidence of who we are today. Prior to this journey, I lived life for me, concerned with how frequently I played golf, the size of my HDTV, what kind of car I drove and the house I lived in ñ all neatly wrapped in the pretty packaging of being a good husband, father, provider and churchgoer. Today, as I write this, the notion of those things ever being the measure of who I am makes me nauseous. Pride continually raises its ugly head to the point that I am even proud of my humility, and then I know I have lost the battle. May I be broken to never seek the approval of man; let me be content with little to be rich toward God.

God bless America! - JKS
11-22-2007
For the past few days we have been in the area of Williamsburg, Virginia. We went to Nansemond River Baptist Church with Linnís high school classmate and his family. Itís so great to see the Body of Christ faithfully worshipping and serving communities all around the country. Tim and Hope graciously took us out to lunch and invited us to hang out all afternoon at their place and watch the Cowboys beat their team, the Redskins. Our kids were thrilled to play with their young boys, T.J. and Josh. And we thoroughly enjoyed adult conversation and fellowship. We are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving in their home as well. Monday, we went into Colonial Williamsburg, which I thought was greatly entertaining. We wandered around the village, in and out of shops, where people dressed in Colonial attire greeted us and taught us about life in the 17th and 18th centuries. We spoke with a jailer who held prisoners awaiting trial, a silversmith, and a tailor. We entered an old tavern and received complimentary hot chocolate and cookies to warm us on this chilly day. Then we gathered on the street to await the speeches that would be given shortly. While we waited, a Colonial woman invited us to come and learn a dance. So the girls and I joined in the group dance and had fun trying out the steps of the Colonial times. Shortly after, we listened as Patrick Henry very passionately delivered his famous ìGive me liberty or give me death!î speech. When he finished to a hearty round of applause, the townspeople came out and discussed the Declaration of Independence and its effect on their lives. I especially enjoyed the intelligent and feisty slave woman who claimed that the great document meant that she, too, was created equal and would one day be free. Yesterday, we drove along the beautiful Colonial Parkway to the Jamestown Settlement. We were privileged to visit this replica of Jamestown and the nearby Powhatan village during the 400th anniversary of the colony! The kids especially liked going into the Indian wigwams and looking at the animal skins, handmade brooms, goard pots, and other items of use by the natives. Inside the fort of Jamestown were the homes and buildings of the colony. One man demonstrated cooking techniques of those times, and two others taught about matchlock muskets and fired them with blanks, and many school boys shouted in awe. Lastly, we walked down the pier to the replicas of the three ships that brought the first 104 men and boys to Virginia. The ships were much smaller than the USS Constitution, and the thought of being a passenger on board the four-month journey across the ocean was revolting. The timing of this tour was perfect, as Bronson has just finished reading books about Pocahontas, John Smith, and Squanto. Being in Jamestown has made history come alive for all of us. It has been good to look back to our beginnings and to remember the struggle and sacrifices that brought us the freedom we have today. We must be diligent to carry on the struggle to remain free. I am so thankful to God for this great country of ours, and I pray often that He will continue to shed His grace on us and give us wisdom to govern ourselves and choose our representatives with great care. God bless America!

If God is For Us...JKS
11-16-2007
I meant to write about this last month when we were in Lake Placid, but the link to the website was not working properly. Now that it is, I just wanted to mention that while in Lake Placid we visited Lake Placid Baptist Church. There we were blessed to hear Dr. Don Whitley, a guest speaker who is a professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I believe his sermon is one that every believer should here. So, I just want to give you that opportunity. You can download this sermon by going to www.lpbaptist.org. Click on Download Sermons and then choose the one titled "If God is For Us..." You can also put it on your I-Pod or MP3 Player. Enjoy!!!

Appreciated sacrifice... LS
11-13-2007
Today we did a bus tour of Washington DC to include, among other sites, the Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. I enjoyed the whole tour, but again, there is so much information, so much history that it is like drinking water from a fire hydrant. It cannot all be taken in. A section of DC is called the Federal Triangle. I think appropriately, and similarly named after the Bermuda Triangle, because those who work within this area are prone to lose all sense of moral direction and are likely to never return to civilian life. The Arlington National Cemetery was especially sobering for me. As we drove throughout the grounds the guide pointed out various points of interest and historical facts. From one location I viewed headstones, uniform in size, shape and color, all in a row as far as I could see. At that moment the reality of all that has been lost for this country, and the freedoms we take for granted penetrated me. I sat on the bus with my eyes full of tears, saddened by what I perceive to be a country that has lost its soul, a country whose citizenry is more interested in self-fulfillment than in self-sacrifice. Seeing row after countless row of markers, a third of which are unknown, made me appreciate the sacrifice of these men and women. They fought for our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Stopping at the Lincoln Memorial from which I could look down the National Mall, to the Washington Monument with its mirror image in the Reflecting Pool, a twinkle of hope that this country is still great returned. For the last several weeks we have been immersed in the history of this country and the contributions of our forefathers is beginning to sink in. Against all odds they proclaimed and won our independence. And again when faced with civil war, Abraham Lincoln held it together. As long as men and women remain who are willing to make sacrifice there will be hope, and this country will remain great.

DC Days
11-12-2007
Yesterday we visited McLean Bible Church. We can always tell when a church is big, because they have police officers directing traffic. But today was a first. The parking lot was a covered parking garage. We arrived early enough to let the kids go to their age-appropriate activities, but we had to navigate the massive facility to find out where each child needed to go. This place had a coffee shop in the fellowship area, with couches and chairs and tables scattered about. They also had a cafeteria, and many people were having breakfast before the service. It smelled good. Linn and I had to divide and conquer to get the kids dropped off in time for us to make it to the service. He took the boys, and I took the girls to the junior high gathering, called ìThe Rock.î We were warmly welcomed and got the girls signed in. The church apparently has two separate sanctuaries for simultaneous worship, one they call more ìtraditional,î and one for 20- to 30-year-olds, with louder music. We opted to go to the more traditional service so we could see the pastor live, rather than on a screen. When we entered, they were already singing ìEverlasting Godî and then ìBlessed Be Your Name.î A praise team with guitars and drums was leading the contemporary music, and it was fairly loud, but not like concert volume. We thought we were in the wrong auditorium, but we were told this was the right one. I had to wonder, if this was the more ìtraditionalî service, what it must be like in the other one! We joined in on ìHow Great is Our Godî and ìIn Christ Alone.î Then the pastor, Lon Solomon, gave a message in a series on the character of God, entitled ìGod is Just.î After a systematic theology lesson on Godís justice and manís acquisition of righteousness only through faith in Christís death and resurrection, the congregation shouted out the big application question, ìSo what?!î And Pastor Lon spent the rest of the time telling us how to apply it to our lives. We learned that vengeance belongs to God, and He will repay (Romans 12), and that we need to take the high road when we are hurt and let God bring judgment in his own time. That leaves us off the hook, and we have clean hands and a clear conscience. We also learned that because of Godís justice, we reap what we sow, even as believers. After the service we grabbed some lunch, changed clothes, and drove to Mount Vernon, the former home of our first president. I was amazed at how well preserved the whole estate was. They have a wonderful visitor center, with bronze statues of George, Martha, and her two surviving children, a replica of the estate, and a short movie about George Washingtonís life. The place was crowded with visitors on this Veteransí Day. The kids received an adventure map and had to figure out clues at each spot on the map to solve a puzzle about George Washington. First, we saw the gardens, greenhouse, and slave quarters. We entered a building where a lady was dressed in period clothing and posing as Martha Washington in her later years, with her oldest daughter, Nancy. We all sat down in the chairs provided and listened as ìMarthaî recalled details of her life with George. She took questions and remained in character the whole time. Linn and I would have listened to her chat all day. In fact, she commented that she loved company so much, that she had been socializing with her guests since 10:00 a.m., and it was 3:00 at that point! We left the room soon after that to give her a break and went to the end of a long line of people waiting to enter the mansion. It was truly remarkable to enter through the door of history and stand in the rooms where the Washingtons lived and entertained guests. Most of the furniture in the house is original, and the Mount Vernon Ladies Association even made sure the view of the Potomac from the back porch was preserved. It was a breathtaking view, with the fall colors bright and beautiful. There are no homes across the river, so it must look very much the same as it did to George and Martha. We moved on to the stables, the smell of the animals still present. In fact, horses and sheep grazed in spacious, grassy, fenced areas by another garden. Finally, we made our way through the brand new museum and education center, where we experienced a 4D theatre presentation of some of the Revolutionary War battles. Our chairs rumbled as the cannons boomed, and snow fell from the sky during the winter encampment of the General and his men. This visit to Mount Vernon was so timely, as the girls and I just finished a unit on George Washington in our Drive-Thru American History curriculum. Itís really too bad that our schools donít teach about George Washington in great detail anymore. I think our society is evidence of that. It would do our kids a lot of good to learn that when George was a teenager, he wrote down 110 rules of conduct that he tried to live by. I saw a recent clip on the OíReilly Factor which showed teens who had no clue what they possess as Americans. They had the prevalent attitude of entitlement that so many today have, and they felt they didnít owe America anything, because: ìWhat has America done for me? Nothing.î And even our lifetime politicians could learn from Georgeís example of relinquishing power to let others serve. Godís Providence gave us such a man at the crucial time of the founding of our nation. May He continue to bless us with leaders who recognize His sovereignty in the affairs of men. Iím thankful that some have cared enough to keep George Washingtonís memory alive, and that there is a place where people can go to learn about his legacy. Today we ventured into Washington, DC, and walked through the Sculpture Garden, attempted to give the kids a little culture at the art museum, and spent the bulk of the day in the Air and Space Museum. We mainly explored the space portion, as we had already seen so many airplanes at the Air Force Museum. There was also a display of many items from the Museum of American History, which is closed until 2008, and we saw Abe Lincolnís top hat, George Washingtonís uniform, one of Mary Lincolnís dresses, Dorothyís ruby slippers and the scarecrow costume from The Wizard of Oz, R2-D2 and C-3PO from The Return of the Jedi, Babe Ruthís signature baseball, Albert Einsteinís pipe, Archie Bunkerís chair, Jackie Kennedyís inauguration gown, and many other items. Tired from a day of walking, we headed home. Tomorrow weíll go for a bus tour of many of the cityís memorials.

Washington DC - LS
11-12-2007
Sunday before last we were watching the Country Music Awards because Carrie Underwood would be on. Hudson heard us talking and when he saw her on the TV he said, ìOh, is that Carrie Underwear!î He makes us laugh all the time. We are in our nationís capital at the most urban campground yet. To say it is noisy would be an understatement. Being located just off the 495 loop it is the equivalent to camping under the I-35/183 interchange in Austin. Nevertheless, we are enjoying our time here and I am glad we committed several days to explore this city. Yesterday, after church at McLean Bible Church (which is gigantic), we went to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. It was fascinating. Today we drove downtown and did a quick walk through of the Museum of Art (Julie and I need to go back for the whole day), before spending the rest of the day at the Air and Space Museum. Tomorrow we will tour the monuments, memorials and Arlington Cemetery. We may have a day of school/golf on Wednesday with Thursday reserved for the Museum of Natural History. On Saturday we move on to Colonial Williamsburg, where I am excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving Day with an old high school friend and his family. It will be such a blessing to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in a home, with friends, as opposed to a restaurant with strangers. By the time we leave Williamsburg I will have had my fill of American History, and will be ready for more trivial endeavors like Disney World. Speaking of Disney World, any one in need of a vacation and interested in a really fun time with the Strocks should join us in Orlando. We will be there from 12/10 to 12/17. Despite gallant efforts by my mom to entice us home for Christmas with promises to fix me anything I want to eat, we will spend Christmas in Port St. Lucie Florida -- a decision I know my stomach will regret, but by the time Christmas arrives it will not be long before we are home for good. Julie and I considered spending Christmas somewhere cold, where snow is likely, not so much to have a white Christmas, but because for eight months we have carried around two full trunks of ski clothes that we have not used once. And with Christmas in Florida it is unlikely we will. Perhaps we will get a snow storm before we leave these cooler climates. Beyond Port St. Lucie, I have always wanted to see the Florida Keys, so we will, and if the weather is nice enough we will stay a while. Working our way back along the gulf coast, I anticipate being home by late January or early February. The good news is that I am almost as excited about that as I was to begin this adventure.

Six states in three weeks...
11-09-2007
The eastern United States are different from the western half in so many ways. One of them is that you can drive an hour or two and be in another state. In the last three weeks we have stayed in or traveled through six states. Considering we spent over five weeks in California that is a bunch of states in a short period of time. Since my last entry about New Hampshire we have stayed on the Atlantic coast in Massachusetts, driven up the coast to Maine, saw a few light houses and ate some lobster. We spent a day in Boston where I was overwhelmed by the rich history that is so concentrated in one area. Traveling back to New York we stayed about two hours north of the Big Apple. Arranging a whirl-wind tour of the city we didn't even scratch the surface of all there is to do and see in that city. I think the best way to experience New York City would be to stay in it for several days. Back in Pennsylvania, and a slower pace of life we visited an Amish Village, the National Miniature Train Museum and the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. Hudson was in heaven. We also did a half day trip to Philadelphia, another history rich city. Being able to sit in the same pew as George Washington at Christ Church was an experience I will remember forever. Continuing west we took a tour of the Gettysburg battlefields. Our guide provided great insights that our children would never get from a book or classroom. Today we arrived in Washington DC where we will spend the next eight nights to sight-see and visit our nation's capital.

Stepping back in time - JKS
11-07-2007
We are back in Pennsylvania at a place called Country Acres, and we are literally surrounded by Amish homesteads. A blend of the old and the new, it seems so odd to me that these communities can co-exist. Just beyond our campground we could watch some Amish men making bales of hay with the aid of a team of five draft horses. At the same time we can hear the noise of cars and trucks speeding along the highway nearby. Friday morning we had breakfast at a smorgasbord, where we had the usual breakfast items, however, with a little Pennsylvania flair. I tried something called scrapple, baked oatmeal, and shoo-fly pie. After breakfast we drove a short distance to a place called Amish Village. Here we took a tour of an 1840 Amish house, which is now used only for tours. A Pennsylvania Dutch gentleman who grew up in the area was very knowledgeable about Amish customs and guided us through the house. He showed us their clothing and talked about their way of life and the motivation behind it. When the tour was over, we went to the barn where the animals were kept. They had a variety of farm animals: bunnies, sheep, chickens, Shetland ponies, draft horses, donkeys, and even a peacock. Next, the kids climbed into a little black carriage with a bright orange triangle on the back, and Daddy got a good photo. We then checked out the one-room schoolhouse, complete with desks, chalkboard, and wood-burning stove. The next building over was the blacksmith shop, followed by the smokehouse, which had been converted to a store full of Amish-made foods. Linn and the kids waited outside while I made my purchase, and then we headed out in the direction of Derry Township, our primary destination for the day, otherwise known as Hershey, PA. We bought tickets for the Trolley Tour around ìChocolate Town,î and learned all about the life of Milton S. Hershey and the evolution of his candy making. During the ride we enjoyed sampling the dark chocolate kiss, the milk chocolate kiss, the Hersheyís Hug, and Reeseís Peanut Butter Cup. But we were most impressed by Hersheyís long life of generosity toward the community. After the tour I learned that Hershey was raised in the Mennonite faith, and his devotion to Christ must have been the driving force behind all the good works he accomplished. He began a school for orphans, now a school for the underprivileged, and over 19,000 students have attended there. He was generous to his employers and built them affordable housing. While he owned the electric company, his workers had lower utility bills than anywhere else in the country. During the Great Depression not one employee lost his job. He willed his entire estate and earnings in a trust fund to keep his school operating. Learning about his life certainly made me examine my own life and whether or not my faith produces actions that impact others and honor Christ. The trolley tour ended as our tour guide handed us each a Hersheyís Milk Chocolate Bar. Then we went inside to take the free ride and see how chocolate is made. And just like rides at Disney, it landed us right in the middle of the giant store, with Hershey products, paraphernalia, and gifts in abundance. On the drive back home we passed Amish farms and houses that had black, purple, blue, and brown clothing drying out on long clotheslines. Since Friday was a day of field trips, Saturday was a regular school day. After lunch, however, we left the deskwork behind to go and see the Choo-Choo Barn and the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, much to Hudsonís delight. Our first stop was Choo-Choo Barn. We stepped through a curtain, where we walked around the most elaborate model town I have ever seen. We noticed the amazing detail as several different types of trains made their way around the tracks. The lights overhead went out for a nighttime view, and tiny streetlights, car headlights, and windows of buildings illuminated the little town. There were hundreds of mini animated figurines: Amish men hammering on the frame at a barn raising, a girl in a tire swing, a farmer taking aim at a gopher, a three-ring circus, and a town parade. We even saw a fire start up inside a home. The alarm sounded, the garage door at the fire station opened, and the fire truck sped over to the burning house, at which point a fireman dragged a hose over to the house, ascended the ladder, and the little hose actually squirted water out! Hudson especially enjoyed the view under the mountain, complete with underground miners, where he could watch trains pass through the tunnel. There was so much to see, we had to go around a second time. Then we headed over to the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum to look at full-sized trains of all kinds: steam engines, electric rail rains, diesel engines, passenger cars, dining cars, and sleeping cars. They also had a section of the museum dedicated to toy trains of all types. Here we saw a Lego town with several working trains on the tracks, a Geotrax town with remote control trains, a classic wooden train set, and another model train town. Hudson protested when it was time to go, but on our way to the car a real, working steam engine chugged toward us on the tracks across the street and whistled as it pulled into the station. We walked over to take a look and got to see the engineer go through a series of safety checks before he hooked the engine to some passenger cars and pulled them back down the tracks. The whistle was much louder up close, and we all jumped when it sounded off. That evening, we fed the kids super, put in a movie, and Linn and I actually drove a few miles to The Olde Greensfield Inn and had a lovely dinner date, a rare occasion on this trip. We finally had four full bars of cell phone reception, so we gave my phone to the kids and left Kaylinn in charge. When we returned, they were all in bed, waiting for us, and Hudson was sound asleep. The next morning, we visited Calvary Church in Lancaster. The music of praise lifted my spirit as we joined our voices with brothers and sisters and exalted the King of kings! We were in for a special treat, because Samuel Rotman played a couple short pieces on the piano to entice the congregation to return in the evening for a concert. He gave a brief version of his testimony, as he is a Jewish believer in Jesus. Raised in a traditional Jewish home, he completed eight years of Jewish education in the evenings after a full day of school. He attended the Julliard School of Music, where he met three Christians who prompted him to read the New Testament. He did, and it changed his life! He prayed to ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins and committed the rest of his life to Christ. He eventually got to be there when his 91-year-old mother received Jesus as her Savior just two years before she passed away. The sad news is that his father disowned him and died without knowing Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior of both Jews and Gentiles. His piano playing portrayed the fact that while at Julliard he practiced ten hours a day, and we wished we could have attended the evening concert to hear more. But our plans were to go to Philadelphia and get a small glimpse of where our independence all began. With the time change, we had limited time to explore; it gets dark by 5:00 here!!! We went to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Franklin Court, where we peered down tunnels to see pieces of foundation from Ben Franklinís house. Sadly, his grandchildren had his home demolished so they could begin new construction. I guess you canít trust your grandkids to preserve your memory. From there we followed the map to Christ Church and entered the place where all of the signers of the Declaration worshipped. We met a man in the church who told us about the actual graves and monuments in the church floor. He showed us where George Washingtonís family pews were located and let us sit in that very spot. We learned that Christ Church at that time was a Church of England and how difficult it must have been for the founding fathers to rebel against the king, who was head of their church. Having recently studied about Benjamin Rush in our Drive-Thru American History, we asked where he sat during services and took the kidsí pictures there for our pastor, as he is a direct descendent of this signer of the Declaration of Independence. We also saw where Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin sat. Since the church did not pass the offering plate, it raised money by annual rental of the pews. The pews would pass from parents to children as they continued to rent them. Ben Franklinís daughter was married in the church. Last on our self-guided trou was a walk past Betsy Rossí house and the Revolutionary graveyard, where Ben Franklin and many others were laid to rest. Iím so thankful for the brave men and women who not too many years ago stood up against tyranny and fought for liberty and justice for all. Since I began this blog, we have travelled on to Gettysburg, PA. Today, we took a tour-guided bus around the crucial battlefield in the Civil War, where over 50,000 men perished for their beliefs. We were so grateful they were still running this guided tour, because the website indicated otherwise. The clear, sunny day deceived us, for a cold, blustering wind whipped wildly all around, making it difficult to stay outside for more than a few minutes! There are 1,300 monuments on the land, paying tribute to soldiers of all ranks, from privates to generals. We stood on Little Big Top, looking down over Devilís Den and Death Valley, and across the hills to Seminary Ridge and Culpís Hill. Generals Lee and Meade strategized to attack and defend these areas of battleground in their efforts to gain the advantage and achieve victory. Three days of fierce fighting came to an end after Picketís Charge, and Leeís weakened forces retreated to Richmond, Virginia, which they would hold for 21 more months. When the tour was over, we walked through the old visitor center, which will actually be demolished next month. The new center is already completed, and they will move the current displays over to the other building. We saw many different models of rifles, piles of bullets, cannons, and shrapnel, and even household furniture with bullet holes from the weapons of sharp shooters. One lady lay sick in bed when a bullet came through her window, drilling right through her footboard into her mattress. For the final part of our education on Gettysburg we bought tickets to the Electric Map. We sat in a square room with tiered theater seats on all four sides, looking down on a large map of the battlefield. The lights went dim, and tiny colored lights appeared on the map to indicate the location of Confederate and Union regiments and key places of the battle as the narrator told the story. Although the technology is a little out of date, this was a really neat way to get the ìbig pictureî of how the Battle of Gettysburg played out from July 1-3, 1863. We then left the visitor center and went through the iron gates of the first national cemetery. This is where, on November 19, just four months later, President Lincoln closed the memorial ceremony with his infamous Gettysburg Address. The girls stood by the monument to the 16th President and took turns reciting these words, which they had memorized last year. I hope, now, that the words have taken on new meaning for them. And I can only hope that Lincolnís words ring true for generations to come: ìthat government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.î

Lady Liberty and the search for peace - JKS
11-07-2007
On Tuesday morning we woke the kids much earlier than they are used to waking up, and Linn drove us all to Hastings on the Hudson, a pretty little community near New York City right along the wide Hudson River. We had to find a place to park along the side of the street, which was lined with cars, because the small parking lots available had a two-hour limit to prevent people from parking there all day and going into New York, which is exactly what we wanted to do. Here we met the limousine driver who would graciously escort us around the Big Apple for the day. Anyone who has been to New York City can understand why we opted not to take the Suburban into that jungle. Leonard loaded us in the black Lincoln Town Car, and I enjoyed watching the kidsí faces as they gazed at the fancy lights and interior of the vehicle. And we were off, headed toward the largest city in the nation. Linn previously made great efforts to find our family of six a reasonable hotel rate in the city so we could spend more time seeing the sights. But this was to no avail. We vetoed the option of riding double-decker buses, getting on and off at different stops throughout the day. The most sensible choice from our vantage point was to do a half-day tour with a private tour guide, since my sister no longer lives in New York. So our driver picked up our tour guide, Irene, near the Lincoln Center, and we began our whirlwind of a day. Irene, born and raised in the area by Hungarian parents, spat out more information than our brains could hold as we made our way through different sections of town. We were able to stop and get out a few times, so we did that first at Ground Zero, which was definitely the most poignant portion of the day. To stand in the very place where the atrocity occurred filled my heart with a cloud of sadness for the immense loss suffered in that place. Construction crews were noisily at work preparing for the building of Freedom Tower, which will stand 1,776 feet high. We saw the cross beam from the rubble of 9/11 turned memorial and remembered again that terrible day six years past. The second place we emerged to see was Battery Park, where parents brought toddlers to play in the plush, green grass and crowds of people packed onto ferries to see Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a perfect, crisp fall day, and the sun was shining bright over the waters of the New York Harbor. A Coast Guard ship moved slowly across our view of the statue and reminded us that our freedom is costly and we should always thank the families of those who sacrifice so much that we might remain free. Our third stop was a trip through the European-style market and on into Grand Central Station, where we learned about the construction of the elaborate ceiling. The kids got to whisper to each other from across the hallway at the corners of an arch, because that particular shape carries sound waves extremely well. The station food court was teeming with diners, but I was amazed at the efficiency with which they clear up tables so that more patrons can sit and eat. We chose only one food vendor to keep it simple and quick; the kids got burgers and Linn and I got unique sandwiches from the Central Market Grill. Now that our tummies were full of good food, it was tempting to take a nap in the limo. Our final stop was at Central Park, where we said goodbye to Irene. We entered at the section called Strawberry Fields and took the path to a statue of Daniel Webster and a water fountain just beyond. We passed a large engraved circle in the pavement, covered in rose petals and rose stems, with the word ìImagineî in the center and the peace sign. There was also a picture of John Lennon and his guitar lying in the circle, and people were gathered around the memorial in solemn reverence for this dead man. They can ìimagineî all they want, but it can never change what is true: Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, and He saved me from my own sinfulness and gave me real peace, because He took my sin upon Himself on the cross. And in exchange He gave me new life, joy, grace, and peace and so much more. Last Sunday we could not find a church to visit, so we had family worship time instead. We listed to our pastor teach from the Bible about Jesusí second coming to usher in His Kingdom of Peace. I can hardly wait for that day!

Sitting by the fire... LS
11-02-2007
Sitting by a fire, whether inside or out, has always been something I enjoy. The simple pleasure relaxes me and I find watching the flames soothing, almost hypnotizing. Tonight, like several nights on this trip, I built a fire, and after dinner I told everyone to bundle up to join me outside for some quality family time. As if we have not had enough of that already. Sitting still, enjoying the quiet is just too much to expect of an 8- and a 4-year-old boy. Talking about everything and nothing while at the same time moving around in their folding chairs made it impossible for me to relax. Answering questions about where did my glove go, to who wants to go for a bike ride made down shifting my mind to neutral equally challenging. Instead, I found myself wishing this fire would burn out, so we can all go inside. It did, finally, and here I sit, while everyone gets ready for bed, chronicling a half hour of our lives, grateful that this is all I have to gripe about.

Timber!!! - JKS 10/23
10-24-2007
For our final day in New Hampshire we decided to hike one of the trails in the White Mountain National Forest. We chose the Boulder Loop, because it was one of the shortest hikes listed on the map the ranger gave us. It certainly ended up becoming one we will never forget. The information on the map indicated that Boulder Loop was a ìmoderateî 2.8 miles round trip, with a total elevation gain of about 900 feet. We found the trailhead and marched with enthusiasm to the beginning of the loop, where we chose the path that would take us up first. And up we went. And up. And up. And up. Fortunately for us, the trees were marked with yellow paint, for the forest floor was covered with leaves, making it difficult to see the path. In addition, all the leaves made our footing a little unstable as we did our best to step around the numerous stones and tree roots along the way. We continue to be amazed at Hudsonís ability to tramp right along with us, with a happy-go-lucky attitude and not a word of complaint. All our efforts paid off when we reached the overlook. We rested on huge boulders in the warm sunlight and stared out over the mountain range below, still ablaze with the colors of the season. Two sections of river sparkled in the valleys below, and the cloudless, blue sky contrasted against the forest green of the hillsides. We basked in the moment several minutes longer until we took to the trail again. To our dismay, we still had to go uphill. (Actually, Linn prefers the ascent to the descent due to his ailing knees.) We finally got to start back down, and by now Hudson began to slow his pace greatly and took turns riding piggy-back first on Daddy, then on me. Nearing the end of the hike, Linn and Madison had disappeared from view, their long legs carrying them faster and farther than the rest of us. I still had Hudson on my back; Kaylinn and Bronson trekked closely behind me. We came to a place in the trail where we had to straddle a large tree trunk in the way and then maneuver over a branch still bearing leaves. Having just gotten beyond that tree, I walked on a few steps. Suddenly to my right I heard an extremely loud crack and then more crunching noises. Instantly, I spotted the tree that was about to topple. Kaylinn froze on the log we had to cross, and Bronson was holding the branch out of her way. Kaylinn hollered, ìLook out, Mommy!î and I ran as fast as I could, with Hudson still clinging to my back, hoping and praying that the tree was not falling in our direction. I heard it crash to the ground behind me with a tremendous thud, and I yelled back to make sure Kaylinn and Bronson were not hit by the blow. Praise, God! No one was hurt. About this time, Linn came bounding toward me to find out what had happened, Madison right behind him. He said the first crack sounded like a gunshot, but the next noise clued him in to the situation. We all stood there in amazement and relief. We went over to check out the tree and noticed it had fallen right across the path and broken into pieces, old and rotten. I was weak-kneed for a few moments afterward, and we all laughed and chatted excitedly about the scary ordeal. What are the odds of being right there when one tree among millions comes tumbling down? Having had enough excitement for the day, we finished the walk out of the forest. I think Hudson was a little nervous and kept a watchful eye on all the rest of the trees as we finished our long trek. I, too, was just a little anxious and hurried to get out of there! Back at the car, we guzzled down the remaining water and Gatorade we had brought and piled in to go home. Linn cranked the key, and the battery was dead! No telling how long weíd be trapped there, waiting for others to finish their hikes and get back to their cars. But even in this situation God provided help. Two cars away a man and his wife were eating lunch! They were friendly and glad to help us out. We were so grateful, as our experience has shown the people of New Hampshire to be less than hospitable. But thatís another story for another day. Ask us about it sometime.

New Hampshire... LS
10-21-2007
Our drive from Vermont to New Hampshire was much less stressful than the one to Vermont. The campground, Danforth Bay Camping Resort www.danforthbay.com/ is very nice. It is large, spread out with tall trees, all in their full array of fall color. Our site is right on a lake, which makes us want to stay in the campground rather than explore the area. On Saturday we did get out for a drive through the White Mountain National Forest along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway; a beautiful drive with views of Mount Washington, New Englandís tallest mountain at 6288í, and whitewater rivers cutting through the valleys. We took a couple of short hikes to see more waterfalls, each one unique and inspiring in its own way. While I think Hudson is growing weary of hiking to waterfalls, I donít think I will ever tire of it. It is the best reward for a little work I have ever found. Our current location in Freedom, NH, is the furthest we will ever be, in terms of miles, from Austin. As we leave here on Tuesday, each new stop will bring us a little closer to home, and with it, a little closer to the end of our journey. While there is still so much to see and do between now and then, the highpoints, the ìmust seesî on our list of places to go to, are shrinking. I suspect that for years to come I will long for these days when my kids where young, innocent and their only concern is what are we going to see today. A time when the distractions of life were minimal and I could focus on my relationships with God, my wife and my children. This season in our lives will be over soon enough, and rather than mourn its passing, I remain grateful for the opportunity. No matter how much it has cost us in terms of dollars, I am, and I believe my family is so much richer for the experience. Second to my salvation, I view this time as the best gift God has given me. So many things could have gone wrong to cancel or cut short this journey, but instead, all of it has gone so right. From the motorhomeís performance as a home and vehicle, the attitudes of our children, the health of our family, our business, traveling safety, to even the weather; it has all come together as an abundant outpouring of Godís grace on us, allowing us to not only experience this, but to enjoy it. There is not a day I regret. Certainly, I have learned from some mistakes, but all-in-all, if I had it to do again, Iíd do it just the same.

Vibrant Vermont - JKS - Oct. 18
10-19-2007
We have had a short but enjoyable stay in Williamstown, Vermont. Yesterday, Linn drove us all around the lower half of the state, and our eyes beheld the scenic landscape. There is an abundance of old churches, school houses, Victorian homes, Bed & Breakfasts, and covered bridges. We even found an old floating bridge, but we didnít cross it out of fear weíd wind up in the lake; there was a 6,000-pound limit posted on a sign, and we are right at that mark. The leaves are a little past peak but are still beautiful blends of orange and yellow, with some bare branches in the mix, giving the hills a softer, more brushed appearance. We stopped for lunch at a place called Sugar & Spice in the town of Rutland. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, and their specialty is homemade, 100% pure maple syrup, which the boys got to sample on their waffles. We were also compelled to share a bowl of the homemade vanilla and maple walnut ice cream. Further down the road we stopped at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The kids really seemed to enjoy finding the realism and humor in his art, and, without being aware, they got a smidgen of history as well. A lovely 70-ish-degree day, we ended the afternoon by tossing the football around. Our campground rests along a glassy lake with diving boards, floating docks, and a nearby waterslide. The kids have already begged us to come back here in the summer. Tomorrow, we say goodbye to this pretty state and hello to New Hampshire.

Blasted GPS... LS
10-16-2007
For over seven months and 12,000 miles the GPS system I have been using has never steered me wrong until today. I normally look at the route in advance to see what is ahead, which I did this time and found that it was taking us across Lake Champlain on a ferry. I checked it out and learned that it required 24 hour advance reservations and would cost approximately $60 for us to cross. I re-routed our travel directions to go south and cross the Hudson River into Vermont. The rest of the route looked straight forward. I should have looked closer. A simple two and a half hour drive turned into a four hour, white knuckle ordeal. The Pacific Coast Highway was nothing compared to this. The GPS instructed me to take a turn onto a road that looked fine. Initially I was happy with this route as it took us along a beautiful, whitewater river. Slowly the asphalt deteriorated, the road narrowed and a sign announced "Pavement ends ahead". I stopped to take a better look at the route on the computer, evaluated my options and determined it would be too much trouble to disconnect the suburban and back my way back down the road. There was no room to turn around. Continuing, we began climbing a small mountain, but nevertheless a mountain, with steep grades, switchbacks and low hanging branches that scraped the roof more than once. Everyone was feeling my tension, and Bronson yelling out, "we're all going to die!" didn't help matters. Hudson was fortunate enough to be asleep on the bed in the back through the whole experience. Madison was getting car sick, and Kaylinn kept asking, "Are we supposed to be here?" I responded with a raised hand that clearly communicated, "Do not talk to me right now." Julie was praying by faith that we would survive. Finally, emerging from the Black Forrest of Death (Green Mountain National Forrest), back on a state highway, I stopped again to look at the GPS route. It appeared to take us on another "short-cut", but I refused to take any chances and opted for the longer way around on smooth state highways and interstates. Relieved, we arrived at our campground in Williamstown, Vermont, a little frazzled, but no worse for the wear.

Visions of Glass - JKS
10-13-2007
For our final day in the Watkins Glen, New York, area, we drove to the town of Corning, where we visited the Corning Museum of Glass. When you have four children, any family outing can potentially break the bank. But once in a while you encounter a pleasant surprise. That happened to us here. The museum doesnít charge a penny for kids 17 and under! This was truly a blessing, because oftentimes Kaylinn and even Madison have been considered ìadultsî in the world of admission prices. We took the self-guided tour through the exhibits, beginning with the contemporary art section. The pieces were extraordinary, many exquisitely beautiful, some intriguing, and some quite perplexing. Then we watched a glass-blowing demonstration and were awed by how easy the man with 29 yearsí experience made a vase. The next area we viewed was the history of glass art, where we observed pieces from ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, early Venice, Northern Europe, and finally, America. The last part of our tour exhibited the history of glass in technology. This was the most hands-on part, and we all had fun exploring and learning together. Of course, we visited the museum store and had a good pizza in the museumís cafeteria. Glass is one of those things I have never spent much time thinking about, but I was totally blown away. The museum is extremely well-done. I had no idea what to expect, figuring a museum is a museum. This one is a cut above the rest!

Adirondack Mountains... LS
10-13-2007
Our campground http://www.northpoleresorts.com is ten miles from Lake Placid in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. It seems we have timed our arrival with the turning of the leaves perfectly. Reports are indicating the fall color is at its peak. The weather has turned cold and wet, so for the first time of our trip, weather has restricted our sightseeing efforts. Not that we canít get out, but the rain and low clouds limit our visibility. While driving around today, we could see snow accumulating at the higher elevations. We will have several more days in this area, and the forecast is improving early next week. On Tuesday we travel east to Vermont for three nights, then on to New Hampshire before turning south. We stop for nearly a week, just north of New York City, to enjoy Halloween in Sleepy Hollow. I understand there will be theatrical readings of ìThe Legend of Sleepy Hollowî and possible sightings of the headless horseman. Iím not scared. Any of you who have been to our home have seen our digital photos scroll across our television. We have a similar setup in our motorhome, and today, while getting ready for the day, I was watching the images, and I told Julie that years from now we will be sitting on our couch together, watching the pictures of this year move across our screen, and we will cry. Partly because we are sad that this season of our life is over, but also because we are so grateful for this opportunity. While we think we understand now, it will take years to appreciate how rich an experience this has been. I have experienced, all too fleeting moments of complete contentment during this trip. For brief seconds, I am consumed by what is happening right in front of me. From playing tackle the guy with the ball with my kids, hiking in the Rocky Mountains, watching spectacular scenery pass by as I drive, to God speaking to my heart about who He is, I have been able to forget whatever worries, burdens and distracts me. In addition to all the glorious sights, causing us to imagine what heaven will be like, these moments have been the glimpses of heaven I did not anticipate. All of us continue to look forward to what lies ahead, but I can sense a growing desire, even in my own heart, to return home. The kids are missing their friends. Julie is frustrated with the lack of cell phone reception limiting her girl talk time, and I am eager to get back in the game.

The Fall of Falls - JKS
10-08-2007
One of the destinations near the top of my list for our family to reach was Niagara Falls, and it definitely did not disappoint me. Pictures just cannot capture the essence of the falls. You have to hear the roar of the water hitting the rocks below, see the strength of the river as it plunges over the brink, and feel the ice-cold spray of the mist on your face. In fact, we were able to experience Niagaraís mist full force by riding Maid of the Mist. Thank you, Robert Turner, for recommending this adventure our family will never forget in your sermon a while back. Clad in blue rain ponchos, we joined a few dozen others on the short but incredible voyage to the base of the Canadian Horseshoe falls. We couldnít help but laugh as the wind from the falling water rocked the boat and came down upon us like a rain shower. Looking back to the American falls, the smaller section, we could see a full rainbow arching across the scene. A lady near us exclaimed with delight over and over the word we were all thinking: ìWow!î Not only were the falls amazing, so was the weather. I was expecting it to be much chillier as we head toward winter in the state of New York. Instead, it was an unbelievably gorgeous, 80-degree day. Another first for our family was spotting a couple of black squirrels. They look like little black bears with bushy tails. Hudson was the only one who didnít care for the boat ride. The highlight of his day was the trolley ride back to the parking lot.

Scenes of NY State - JKS
10-08-2007
The countryside of western New York calls to the spirit, speaking of a simpler way of life. Homesteads dot the hills and winding roads, accompanied by red barns and fields of potatoes, corn, and alfalfa. Black and white dairy cows graze contentedly in their soft, green fields. Absent are the signs of suburbia. Here there are no strip malls, movie theaters, traffic lights, fast food restaurants. Instead, there are small communities scattered about, with charming wood-siding houses, many displaying a seasonal touch of pumpkins, dried cornstalks tied to porch columns, and pots of brightly colored mums. There are ample churches with tall steeples and stained-glass windows. The whole area brings back images of days gone by, when children could run, imagine, and play without the aid of images on video screens. When people didnít have to constantly be entertained but could pass the evening simply by sharing the company of family and friends on front-porch rocking chairs. My feeble attempt to describe the country here, I fear, has failed. If I could use a single word to capture it all, it would have to be serene. Iíd love to come back sometime and see this place blanketed in freshly fallen snow.

A Simple Life... LS
10-08-2007
Since my last entry about Portersville, PA, we have spent four nights at our first Jellystone Campground in western New York, about an hour southeast of Buffalo, and two nights at Camp Bell in Campbell, NY, a transition campground because I did not make reservations far enough in advance and underestimated the eagerness of New Yorkers to camp over Columbus Day Weekend. I called a half-dozen campgrounds before finding one that could accommodate us. We are now on our second of four nights at a KOA just south of Watkins Glen. For you NASCAR fans, we are within earshot of The Glen International Speedway. Our hikes over these last few days have rewarded us with spectacular sights, as inadequately reflected by the photographs on the gallery page. I continue to be impressed by the turning leaves, as it seems each day the color becomes a little more encompassing. The customary green gives way to yellows, oranges and reds, with a little bit of purple mixed in. This transition will accelerate for us on Thursday, as we head north toward upstate New York, Lake Placid and the Adirondack mountains. The websites designed to help monitor fall color are indicating the peak is near. I can hardly wait. The weather has been unseasonably warm, with a high of 85 today. I told Julie that means there will be little or no transition period of comfortable 65 degree days and cool nights. Sure enough, the forecast for Lake Placid over the next several days will by mid-forties during the day and near freezing at night. What has impressed me as much as scenery is what I perceive as a simpler life. Small towns are connected by country roads and seem to be centered around a church with a cemetery. The homes along each ìMain Streetî are cute, well-kept farm houses with crops often growing in the back. Absent are the movie theaters, super markets and strip centers. While Iím sure the lives of the people who live here have as many anxieties as the rest of us, I suspect they sleep better at night. Along the road to the town of Watkins Glen is a small farm, complete with house, barn and equipment. On the property near the road is a table with bundles of firewood and a sign that says, ìSELF SERVE - 1 for $3.00, 2 for $5.00î If you stop, which we did, youíll see a smaller sign taped to a coffee can that says, ìPut money in the canî Thatís the way life ought to be.

Bountiful Beauty and Byrne
10-03-2007
We came to western New York mainly to get to Niagara Falls, which we will go see tomorrow. However, little did we know what else would be in store for us. This is the first Jellystone campground we have stayed at for the entire trip thus far. We checked in at the office and, through the course of conversation, learned that the owner let Corporate America to spend more time with his kids. We nodded and smiled in understanding. Because we had kids, he asked us if we wanted a site next to the playground (we practically have the whole place to ourselves until the weekenders pile in, and then it will be full). We should have asked, ìWhich one?î There are three great playscapes at this place! Madison aptly named it Playgroundtopia. I expected our weather in New York to be chillier than in Pennsylvania, but it is actually warmer here. The days have been in 70ís, with the nights in the mid-50ís, and tomorrow it will be in the 80ís! We couldnít ask for a more perfect autumn. The leaves have already begun to turn various shades of yellow, orange, and red and, in just two daysí time, have really started to contrast the green more vividly. Today we set out for Letchworth State Park after having seen a picture of its beauty in the Wyoming County magazine. Since the roads were all country lanes passing through very tiny towns, Linn actually broke the unspoken code of man, pulled into a gas station, and let me ask for directions. We came to find out we were a mere 1/8th of a mile from the park entrance, so we werenít as lost as we felt. First, we visited the Letchworth Museum, where we learned that Mr. William Pryor Letchworth began his career at the age of 15, working as a representative for a cast-iron toy maker. He bought his house and surrounding land in 1859, then deeded it to the state of New York in 1907. His home is now the beautiful Glen Iris Inn, which has been housing guests since 1914 and also includes a fine dining restaurant, Carolineís Dining Room. Besides the restored inn, the state park has 85 cabins, a guest lodge, swimming pool, lots of hiking trails, river rafting adventures, and even balloon rides! In the winter you can snowshoe, go on guided hikes, or cross-country ski. We drove to the main attractions, the three different falls of the Genesee River, each remarkably spectacular. Just beyond the upper falls lies an old iron railroad bridge, which was constructed soon after the original wooden one burned down in a fire. My favorite viewing area was Inspiration Point, where I could easily see why they call this gorge ìthe Grand Canyon of the East.î The view was as breathtaking as any weíve yet seen: tall slate cliffs; a milky-green river meandering through the canyon; great, white, foamy falls in the center of lush, quilt-colored forest; and small flocks of pigeons soaring in circles on the wind. I could have sat there, gazing at Godís glorious creation, all afternoon. Taking in the scenery and, especially, traversing many flights of stairs worked up our appetites. After munching on our own stores of food, we felt compelled to sample the ice cream sold in the snack shop. We all chose chocolate (there were not 31 flavors to choose from), and it was so rich and creamy, you could tell it came from one of the many nearby dairy farms in the area. I asked Linn to find out, and the man behind the window told us it was Byrne Dairy ice cream. I believe Byrne could give Bluebell some serious competition. Our tummies full and our legs worn out, the only thing left to do was head home. Our littlest hiker fell fast asleep in record time and is sleeping still as I write from the couch across from him. The other young hikers apparently did not deplete all their energy, as they rode their bikes off to one of the other playgrounds as soon as we got back. These are most definitely days I will long hold dear.

Tombstones, Wings, & a Pirate Ship
10-01-2007
This Lordís Day, we drove only a couple of minutes down the road from our campground to a little, white-painted building with a steeple. We joined the believers at Portersville Bible Church for a very traditional service of announcements, hymns, and a sermon. In small churches the lay people have to fill roles that are usually paid positions in large churches. That was most definitely true here, where congregation members take turns being the ìsong leader.î We were slightly amused but mostly saddened by the man at the podium. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe he had just had tragic news or something like that. He made absolutely no eye contact, kept both hands planted on the stand, barely mumbled the words, and even yawned a couple of times. I find it difficult to comprehend how anybody can sing the great old hymns and not truly grasp the meaning down in his heart. The only explanation I can think of is that the same songs may be repeated so often and can grow common and even meaningless if a person doesnít focus on what heís singing. Yet my heart knows I have done this very thing at times as well. I think ìsing a new songî means to even sing the old songs like they are brand new, and I pray that God will give me grace to do that. After a very good sermon about responding to Godís purpose with a life of total commitment, we stepped outside into the bright sunlight. To one side of the church building were row upon row of tombstones. Instead of walking straight to the car, Linn lead us out onto the grass of the graveyard, where we scanned names and dates of those who have gone before us. We were amazed to see dates in the 1800ís; one from 1862 prompted me to wonder if it marked the resting place of a Civil War soldier. I recently learned that the average lifespan of the early colonists was a mere 35 years. Having dealt with a few tragic losses of life in their own community this week, the pastor reminded us that weíre all dying, and that we should live each day that we are given to Godís glory. The tombstones stand to make us all aware that our lives here on earth are but a breath, and what we do here matters for eternity. Leaving the church, we headed to Pittsburg to see the city and find some lunch. Downtown Pittsburg displays uniquely designed bridges and skyscrapers amid tree-covered hillsides laden with homes and businesses. We encountered several die-hard Steeler fans on their way to the stadium to watch their away team on a big screen. Not many restaurants appeared to be open for business on Sunday, so we wound up eating home-style cooking back in Portersville at Brownís Country Kitchen. They advertised ìBest wings around,î and we would have to agree. But the highlight of our meal was the slices of homemade pie made fresh that very morning. Stuffed full with good country cookiní, Daddy compelled us all to hike a trail on the grounds of our RV park and then let the kids run and play on the playground. This campground wins the award for the most original playground. There is a rope jungle gym, an old tire foundation, and even a pirate ship complete with mast and ragged sail. Iím sure that old ship will remain forever in the minds of our kids when we look back on this very special time together.

A Picture of Pennsylvania - JKS
10-01-2007
I havenít logged any details of our trip from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, mainly because we have not been sightseeing. While Linnís goal is to get us to New England in time for the peak of the fall colors, my goal was to get some school done. The kids endured five days in a row of school fairly well. When they grumbled, I reminded them that MOST kids do this week in and week out. Saturday brought us all a day off, and we enjoyed a gorgeous fall day in Portersville, PA. We drove to nearby McConnells Mill State Park to attend the 15th annual Heritage Festival. Vendors, dressed in period costumes, displayed their crafts which date back to the 1800ís, when the old gristmill was in operation. We sauntered from booth to booth, taking in all the sights, sounds, and scents. A woman demonstrated antique chair caning; a blacksmith hammered out iron tools; a man talked about different types of wool as he spun some into yarn. We heard the bluegrass music of Mountain Therapy, amazed by the talent of the banjo, mandolin, guitar, and string bass players. We sampled fresh-squeezed lemonade and hot kettle corn. We were blown away by the blasts of the Civil War cannon demonstrations and impressed with the handmade baskets of some Amish girls. One of my favorite parts of the festival occurred while observing the different kinds of sheep in a pen right next to the yarn spinner. The proud owner of the sheep grinned as he walked toward us, eager to share his knowledge of the sheep. He was missing a few teeth and wore a beard without a mustache. He told us about the differences in their coats, how often they are sheered, and even that the one he called Blackie liked being scratched and twitched her back legs like a dog. Then he gave an airy whistle, at which point the sheep all instantly perked up, stood up, and gave him their attention, seemingly waiting for his next command. In that very moment my mind recalled Jesusí words from John, chapter 10, speaking of Himself as the Good Shepherd: ìI know my sheep, and my sheep know me.î In fact, the man told us if he opened the gate, the sheep would all follow him. I absolutely loved this real-life picture of our Shepherd, who ìcalls His own sheep by name and leads them out. His sheep follow Him, because they know His voice.î On the way back to Bear Run Campground, Linn drove around a bend for a look at the nearby lake. We noticed a sign for horseback riding, and Linn graciously gave the big kids and me permission to hit the trail. It was a special treat and a fun way to wrap up a beautiful day. I particularly enjoyed letting the horse do all the work, but the horse got the best of me, because I sneezed nearly nonstop for half the trail and could barely breathe when I got home. When Kaylinn gets her horse, weíre going to have to board it. 

Portersville, PA... LS
09-29-2007
We are currently in Portersville, PA, about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh. Our campground, the Bear Run Campground, is one of the prettiest yet. Portersville is a quaint little town near McConnell Mill State Park where we attended the annual Heritage Festival. Lots of booths with crafts, art and other wares for sale. We watched a civil war cannon demonstration which the boys really liked. My ears are still ringing. Afterward we drove through the park over an old covered bridge, along a white water creek with large boulders that reminded me of Sequoia National Park. Returning to our campground we saw a sign for horseback riding. Finding the purveyor; Julie and the oldest three went riding for an hour, while Hudson and I went back to our coach to nap. It was a good day. Tomorrow we plan to attend Portersville Bible Church. A picturesque country church with white siding and a tall steeple, complete with its own cemetery in the back. Monday we continue north to spend a few days near Buffalo, NY, to see Niagara Falls. It got down to 44 last night and we had to run the heat for the first time in months.

Appalachian Mountains... LS
09-28-2007
I enjoy pleasant surprises and the drive north from Atlanta to Portersville, PA has been most enjoyable. The Appalachian Mountains are rolling, green and beautiful. When contrasting the Rocky Mountains to these a friend described them this way "...the mountains in the east in particular, are less obviously awesome because of their age. God has rounded off their edges with His infinite time. The vegetation is less huge and magnificent, but it is denser. Thereís more to it. There are fewer waterfalls but more gently flowing streams." My mom encouraged me with these words, "Some may say there is nothing left to compare with the sights on the western leg of your journey, but I beg to differ with them. Perhaps the scale of the Smokies, the Appalachians, the Adirondacks, and the Poconos won't be as grand as the Rockies, maybe the old oak trees draped with Spanish moss won't impress some the way the Redwoods do, but I know because God is omnipresent He is waiting to show you more beauty in nature, teach you lessons you haven't learned yet, tell you things that are on His heart if you'll lean your ear toward Him. The mountain top views are breathtakingly beautiful, but did you notice that it was cold up there, harder to breathe, fewer trees or anything else for that matter grew the higher you climb. When you came DOWN to (the) VALLEY the sun was warmer, the soil richer, gentle rivers bring water and oh the fruit that grows in the valley. I enjoy the WOW of the high places but it has been in the valleys that God seemed nearer." As we began the second leg of this journey I was pessimistic by my expectation of disappointment. I expected the eastern half of the trip to be less grand, less awesome, less inspirational. In some ways, I was right. So much of the western United States is more grand and awesome, but the second half of this trip has been no less inspirational. God in His faithfulness continues to work in our hearts to teach more about who He is. I am increasingly grateful for this season in my familyís life, to be able to have this year together. The other day we were driving through the Smoky Mountains and the kids were talking about how we could keep doing this, keep traveling to see more of what we have missed. It is fun to talk about, but impractical to execute. Life, at some point, has to return to normal; even for us. I hope that when we do return to normal life, God will leave his imprint on each of us.

September 22, 2007 - LS
09-28-2007
It's official, fall has arrived. Not only according to the calander, but also as evidenced by the turning leaves and cooler weather. Not to mention football is in full swing. What a great time of year it is. While it is still in the 90's in Austin (sorry) the highs in western North Carolina are in the low 80's and the lows in the high 40's. We had our first illness of the trip and our ability to explore the Smoky Mountains was reduced due to Julie and my need to keep bathroom facilities near by. All is well now. We leave the Smoky Mountain National Park tomorrow to continue our trek north. We'll spend three nights in Virgina, then on to Pittsburg, PA before arriving in Buffalo, NY to see Niagra Falls. We'll be in Pittsburg over the weekend, so I'll check to see if the Steelers are home and if I can pick up some inexpensive tickets. Our goal is to get as far north in Vermont and New Hampshire in time for the peak fall foliage, which should be around the 1st or 2nd week of October. We are having a bit of a challenge finding campgrounds that are open beyond October 15, so we'll have to start heading south pretty quickly. If our plans hold we will be in New Jersey to see New York City around the end of October. Today for church, instead of attending a local fellowship, we went to breakfast here in the campground for some great pancakes, returned to our coach to download and listen to our Pastor's sermon from Last Sunday. I love modern technology. We are always blessed by our Pastor's preaching and hearing him makes us a little homesick. Afterward we got in the car to drive a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is absolutely beautiful, but I'd recomend a convertable or motorcycle for a more complete experience. Thank you for your continued prayers for safety and health. God is answering in regard to returning home. A few months ago the idea of returning to Austin was the last thing I was willing to do, but as the end of our trip approaches my desire and even eagerness to be home is increasing. I am glad for that. Thank you Father

Stone Mountain and Smoky Mountains - JKS
09-18-2007
After an incredibly delightful family gathering in Panama City, Florida, we parted company and drove to Atlanta, Georgia, to stay in Stone Mountain Park. What these people call a mountain seemed more like Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, Texas. The face of the rock has a carving of confederate heroes Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. Our campsite was canopied by tall trees, and we could walk right down to the bank of the river and get an unobstructed view of the massive rock. We got back to work on some school, and we included a field trip to Stone Mountain Park. There we witnessed blacksmith and glassblowing demonstrations. Then we took a tour of an antebellum plantation. On the property stood the doctorís household, which represented the typical family home in the 1800ís ñ a one-room log cabin with a loft, just like on Little House on the Prairie. All activities of daily living would occur in that one room until bedtime. We sure have come a long way from living out of necessity to living in luxury. I know we have a lot more modern conveniences to make life easier, but somehow I think they can easily distract us from the things that really matter ñ relationships. And I think we also forget that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above, and we get a sense of entitlement in place of gratitude. ìI work so hard, I deserve these things,î rather than, ìThank you, God, for the clothes on my back, a soft bed to sleep on, and good food to eat.î The plantation home was just over 6,000 square feet, and yet only 1% of slave owners lived in such luxury. On the other hand, the slaves lived in little shacks that probably were not very well insulated from the cold winters. Something I never knew was that the slaves were offered shoes for their feet, but they chose to go barefoot, because they were unaccustomed to them. A full day brought us back to the RV for some rest, before we drove back into the park for the big event ñ a laser light show on the mountain. The kidsí favorite song was The Devil Went Down to Georgia. I, on the other hand, was moved by the tribute to American soldiers in Iraq. On Sunday we ventured out to worship at First Baptist of Atlanta, where we got to hear Charles Stanley. They will be celebrating his 75th birthday and 38th year as their pastor next Sunday. It was a joy to be there, and I was especially blessed by the choirís rendition of one of Bannockburnís choir favorites: There is a Fountain. We were quite impressed with the facilities, as the orchestra pit lifted the players to the platform. More importantly, the Word of God was preached. The biggest blessing of the day, however, was getting to hear Phillip Kelley preach at New Hope Churchís north campus on Sunday night. We got to see Fran and Caroline as well, and it was just a special gift from God to get to see them, even though it was brief. Our hearts are with our church family back home, and we are praying with you across the miles. Yesterday, we departed Atlanta and arrived in Cherokee, North Carolina in the Smoky Mountains. This morning, we drove to the Smoky Mountain National Park, walked through the small visitor center, and took a walking tour of a mountain farm. Then we drove higher up into the park and got out to see the view. Since I hadnít been feeling quite right this morning but ignored Linnís admonition to stay home, I ended up getting sick. Linn, too, was feeling poorly, having dealt with some sort of stomach virus for almost two weeks, now. We turned the car around and headed back to camp. We put a movie on for the kids and retreated to our room, closed the blinds, and took a nap. Later, Linn took the kids on a short hike nearby to Mingo Falls, a 120-foot waterfall. Then they stopped at the playground, so Mommy could rest some more. Iím finally feeling a little bit back on track, so, hopefully, I will feel well in the morning. The best thing about our current location is the absolutely lovely weather we are experiencing ñ highs in the low 80s and lows right around 50. I guess itís time to say goodbye to summer clothes as we head northeast. We can already see signs of fall color and can hardly wait to get up to New England for the annual display!

An Austin reunion in Atlanta... LS
09-18-2007
Sunday night we went to church at New Hope Baptist Chuch to hear our Minister of Young Adults preach. It was such a blessing to be in the same town, at the same time as friends from home. Philip is a golfing buddy and his wife, Fran, sings with Julie on the Praise Team at our home church in Austin. Our visit was brief, but enjoyable, and made us a little home sick.

Tour Championship... LS
09-14-2007
We left Panama City on Wednesday to arrive in Atlanta Georgia. We are staying at the Stone Mountain Campground http://www.stonemountainpark.com/, which is a more rustic, but beautiful campground with tall pines. Our site is right on the lake, with a great view of Stone Mountain. After learning of all there is to do here, we decided to extend our stay two more days to explore the area. Coincidentally, we are here at the same time that the Tour Championship is being played. The title sponsor is Coca-Cola and, coincidentally, I have a cousin (Lee) who works for Coke. Honestly, I did not plan this. She was able to get me a pass for the Thursday and Friday rounds. Having never been to a PGA tour event before, I was very excited. It was pretty cool to see these guys who I've watched on TV for years, up close and personal. The Thursday round was delayed due to rain, but I went back on Friday and was able to see many of the players, including Tiger from the first to eighteenth tee. The commercial that says "These guys are good" is an understatement. On Thursday I watched Tiger warming up at the driving range. He hit ten balls in a row with a wedge, all the same distance in a line from left to right, about two feet a part. I then watched him chip. His first practice chip was very short, and I thought that's not a very good shot. Then it hit a water bottle his caddie had set on the green and I realized he did that on purpose, because he proceeded to hit it two more times. A thousand thanks to Lee for giving me one of the biggest treats of this trip, and to my loving wife for letting me go.

Sea to shining sea... LS
09-14-2007
From the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico; since April we have seen both. The Pacific is magnificent, rocky, with great cliffs and mountain vistas overlooking the globes largest ocean. The portion of the Gulf of Mexico along Floridaís northwest coast is touted as the Worldís Most Beautiful Beaches. Iíve not experienced an adequate sampling of the worldís beaches to support that claim, but if there are more beautiful beaches, they must be spectacular. I lived in the Panama City area, where we are now, for five years during my high school and early college years. This is my first trip back to Panama City since my ten-year high school reunion fourteen years ago. Familiarity brings a degree of comfort, but not as much comfort as just being on the beach. The ocean moves me in a similar way the mountains in the west do. I find a connection with our Creator and a renewal of my spirit that I am increasingly dependent on. I am content in being small in comparison to our God and this world He has made. I am so grateful for our senses; that we can see the beauty of Godís creation, feel the sand under our feet, and the sun on our skin. We can smell the salt air, hear the waves and even taste the salt water. My kids have seen and experienced so many things these last several days: Sunfish nibbling on their toes, boogie boarding in the surf, feeding sea gulls, snorkeling for sea shells, building sand castles and wondering why God made all manner of strange creatures. We leave the day after tomorrow and I am already feeling sad to leave this time, this place behind. I am already missing the time with my parents and the end of summer. As we head north it will turn cool quicker than if we stayed. In less than three weeks we will have traded our beach clothes for long sleeves and pants. It was such a blessing to be able to celebrate Hudsonís fourth birthday with my parents, Charlie, Jodi and their kids. I find myself increasingly grateful for this season in our lives and at the same time saddened that the days are passing so quickly. I remember that two months into this journey I thought to myself this is going to be a really long trip. Now, with six months behind us and six months ahead, the time is going too fast.

Sunday School... LS
08-29-2007
Back in July, as we neared returning home in Austin I was asked to share with our Sunday School class what God is doing our our lives. Below is what I shared. Just over four months ago, after selling our home, my wife and four children packed ourselves into a motorhome and headed west. Full of excitement and anticipation of what lay ahead, we told practically everyone we met what we were doing. The responses ranged from, ìThat is the coolest thing in the world.î To, ìYou must be out of your mind.î At times I have thought both. Our first stop was Koyote Ranch south of Fredericksburg. A neighboring camper, a big Harley riding character came over to talk. I told him what we were doing and the man nearly cried he was so excited for us. He had goose bumps as began telling me places we had to see, and I knew then that this was a good thing. One of our central themes in our nightly prayers is that God will teach us what He wants us to learn, meet who He wants us to meet and see what He want us to see. Isaiah 6:3 says - Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His Glory. In these past four months I have seen His glory. I have seen it the mystery of Carlsbad Caverns, in the grandness of the Grand Canyon, in the majesty of the Sequoia Forest, in the inspiring beauty of Yosemite, in the heights of the Redwoods, in the exhilarating experience of playing Pebble Beach. From Crater Lake, Yellowstone, the Rocky Mountains, the strange rock formations of Utah to so many places in between I have seen His glory. Godís word is true ñ the whole earth is full of His Glory. But I have also seen His glory in the faces of my children as they stand in awed silence starring at what God has made. And, in their prayers when they thank their heavenly Father for this trip. I have seen His glory in my wife who day after day, joyfully showed us Jesus in her loving service to her family. I have seen His glory each Sunday when visiting another church and so many people would welcome us like family. I have seen His glory through God answering so many of your prayers for safety and health. Outside of Bronson nearly falling into the Grand Canyon, and a few attempts on my life we didnít have a single close call. Through the miracle of the internet we have been able to download and listen to a few of Pastor Ryanís sermons. In particular, after Dr. Falwellís passing, Pastor Ryan spoke of a reporter who suggested Dr. Falwellís passing marked the end of conservative Christianity. Our pastor responded by saying the reporter did not understand the Holy Spirit and that the work of the Holy Spirit does not fall on one man. We have witnessed this to be true. The Holy Spirit is at work in congregations and in lives of individuals all across this country. Through the benefit of hindsight I can see Godís glory in His gentle turning of my heart to give up the things of this world that I once held so dear. The things I once thought identified who Linn Strock is and to bring me to a place where I love Him more than my house, my car and my stuff. He has, as only He can do, brought me to a place where I love Him more than I love myself. It is a good place to be. The throne of my life was not made to fit me. It was made to fit God and when I peeled myself out of it to let God take His place I experienced a peace I did not know existed. I must tell you though, the old man dies hard. It is a daily act to tell God,îToday you sit on the throne to my life.î I donít do that every day. There was a day in Monument Valley Utah where my sewer hose was not long enough. I forced it. It sprung a leak. It was 102 degrees outside. There is so much more I could tell you. Needless to say there were days I thought we should stop and come home. It wasnít always easy, but it has been so worth it and Iíd do it again tomorrow. As I review the goals for this journey as listed on our website, so much of what we set out to do has been accomplished and others will be lifelong works. - Allowing us the freedom to financially give back to God what He has so generously given. ñ We need to give more - To see through our children's eyes the wondrous things God has made. ñ There is still so much to see - Create memories that we hope our children will share with their children. ñ Time will tell, but Iím confident that will happen - Give them an educational experience that takes them beyond words in a book. ñ This has definitely happened - Make our family really, really close. ñ Absolutely! In Mark chapter 4 Jesus is explaining the meaning of the parable of the seed and the farmer. Verse 18 & 19 says, Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. For the first 30 years of my Christian walk this verse described me. The unexpected result of this trip has been that it has made me discontent in my relationship with God. Having experienced a taste of what God has to offer has left me wanting more. As we enjoy a couple of weeks at home, I look forward with great expectation of what is ahead.

More Family Time
08-28-2007
We're now in Nashville, Tennessee, where Linn's brother and his family live. Some of you know they used to live in Austin very near us, but Charles took a job building homes and moved his family back to Nashville. We were very excited for his opportunity there, but so sad to see them go. We are enjoying our time with them. After a six-hour drive to get here, they showed up at our campground with pizza. On Sunday morning, we worshipped at their church, Fellowship Bible, and were so blessed. I wanted to take a picture of their choir, because every single one of them had JOY flowing forth, something I know David has tried to get across to us back at Bannockburn. :) The pastor wrapped up a 15-month journey through the book of Hebrews, so we got a summary of everything it took their congregation over a year to learn. It was awesome! We enjoyed a nice meal out after the service and then went swimming at the family YMCA. In the evening, we got to go see the lot and foundation of their family's new home. They should be moved in by the end of the year. Yesterday, we had to put the RV in the shop next door to our campground for some routine maintenance. While we waited for the work to be done, we took the kids to the Opryland Hotel to walk around in. Even though we had the opportunity to stay there years ago for a business convention, we quicly remembered why it is so easy to get lost in that place. There are several wings connected to gorgeous, plant-filled atriums, so you hardly even realize you are indoors. I even saw a few birds flitting about. The kids enjoyed the water fountains, the fish in the "rivers," and even a couple ducks. There are at least seven restaurants and lots of shops to spend money in. Speaking of money, it cost us $13.11 to park for under two hours. Needless to say, your money will not stay in your pocket if you stay at Opryland. Then we went to a nearby outlet mall to buy me a new pair of tennis shoes. After making that purchase, we strolled through the mall to see what else was there. We wandered into a place called Glow Golf, where we played a glow-in-the-dark game of miniature golf. What a riot! That was pretty fun, and I told Linn I wanted to put one in Austin. It could be the latest craze in birthday parties! After a healthy lunch at McDonald's, we picked up the RV and got ready to go back to Charlie and Jodi's house, where she served up a great spaghetti meal in honor of Tori's first full day of Kindergarten. We topped it off with a trip to Ben & Jerry's for ice cream. Tonight, Kaylinn is going to earn her keep by babysitting for all the cousins and her siblings, while the mamas and the papas get to go out to eat. While Nashville is a beautiful city, it is hotter here than in Austin! They are having record temperatures like they haven't seen in 50 years. We just have a knack for following the heat, and Linn is ready to head northeast to get into some cooler weather. On the bright side, we haven't had to buy propane in quite some time. We look forward to a couple more days here, and then we're Panama City bound for a good way to say goodbye to summer.

Kentucky History
08-21-2007
Today we all hopped in the Suburban for a one-hour drive to Carrollton, Kentucky. The destination was a meeting place halfway between our campground and the small town near Louisville where my friend, Susheila, and her family live. That halfway point was the Geeral Butler Resort State Park. Our two families had lunch in the Two Rivers Restaurant, located in the lodge there. After a great buffet-style meal, we went for a short hike on one of the trails in the park. This nicely manicured and well-maintained park also has a golf course, a large swimming pool at the lodge, cottages with fireplaces, playgrounds,a miniature golf course, tennis courts, and campsites. Next, we took a tour of the Butler-Turpin Mansion, where the former U.S. war hero lived on 300 acres with his family and 100+ slaves. We learned he also ran for Vice Preesident of the United States but lost to the Zachary Taylor ticket. His home was built in 1859, and many of the original furnishings are still in the home. We enjoyed our short time with Randy, Susheila, and their adorable 15-month-old son, Roshan. I'm so thankful for the friends God has given us and allowed us to see along this most excellent adventure!

The Creation Museum... LS
08-18-2007
Today, on a Saturday, with four times more people than the facility is designed to handle, we went to see the Creation Museum. My expectations were so high; it would have been difficult for me to be impressed. The facility and content is certainly impressive, and both Julie and I stated how encouraging it is to see so many people attending a museum that must have experienced significant obstacles in preparing to open. The museum is well laid out, thoughtful, scripturally accurate and presents a solid case for the young earth, intelligent design position, while respectfully explaining why evolution is flawed. It takes 2.5 to 4 hours to walk through exhibits of the seven ëCís: 1. Creation ñ 6, 24-hour day creation account 2. Corruption - Sin 3. Catastrophe - Flood 4. Confusion - Babel 5. Christ ñ Life of Jesus 6. Cross ñ Death of Jesus 7. Consummation ñ Resurrection and return of Jesus/New heaven and new earth Sadly, I am a product of the modern multi-media world we live in, and if information is not coming at me in hi-def and surround sound I tend to yawn. With better than normal use of animatronic dinosaurs they try to make it interesting for children, but once you enter the main section, most of the flash is replaced with posters of graphics, diagrams and text. It is not difficult to follow; it just requires a level of self-motivation that I apparently lack. At least I did today with too many people in the room and a frustration at knowing my kids were not getting it. There are more exhibits than just posters; everything from life-like wax characters to the Noahís Ark exhibit, which did impress me. You walk through a life-size section of the Ark while under construction. There are also several very well done, professionally made video presentations that capture the attention of all ages. I know I would enjoy going again on a less crowded day, where we can take our time at each exhibit and help our children understand why biblical creation is not a myth. It is too important an issue to let the $20 entrance fee dissuade me, but it probably will.

A Day in Saint Louie
08-15-2007
We arrived near St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday, settled in, and went in search of the nearest Super WalMart. Too tired to cook after shopping, we ordered pizza from a local place, called Imoís, that delivered to our campground. When we opened the boxes, what we saw looked completely foreign to us. I mean, it resembled pizza in its traditional, round shape, but the cheese was the wrong color ñ orange instead of the familiar white. The crust was just about as thin as you can make it, and you could SEE the ooze of grease over the entire pie. Of course, the flavor was far from the usual marinara/mozzarella mix, and our meat pizza had bacon on it, as well, as if it didnít have enough grease already. It was actually quite tasty once you got past the uniqueness of it. Looking again at the box, I read, ìSt. Louis-style Pizza.î I donít know what St. Louis style is, but it is definitely different. Although our RV park was well-hidden by thick foliage, it was not in a very good area of town. After thinking it over, we changed our reservations for two nights instead of four. That only left us with one day to explore the St. Louis area, so we chose the Gateway Arch, of course. This amazing feat of architecture and construction ingenuity has been a part of the St. Louis landscape since I was a little girl growing up in Quincy, Illinois, right on the Mississippi River. In fact, my parents took Laurie and me to see it when we lived there. Little did I know then that one day I would experience the pleasure of taking my own children. As we walked toward the Arch, the hot sun beat down upon us. We were, therefore, grateful to walk down the steps into the underground Jefferson Memorial Expansion Museum to buy our tickets. We picked out a magnet in the Museum store, a Christmas ornament, and a finger puzzle for Bronson. Then we ventured over to the museum, which very aptly portrayed Americaís westward expansion. We enjoyed looking at the lifelike exhibits until it was time to watch the documentary on how the arch was built. We sure gained appreciation for this amazing structure, and, after witnessing the height from which the men did their work, Bronson was a little hesitant to take the 4-minute tram ride to the top. When our turn finally came, we all ducked through the small, rectangular opening and seated ourselves inside the tiny, round, white capsule. The doors shut us in, and we were at the point of no return. Soon we were hoisted up with an occasional slight tilt of our capsule to maneuver the slope of the arch. At the top we clamored out of the small space and walked up some stairs to our final destination, the pinnacle of the tallest man-made monument in the United States. We all peered out the narrow windows to the world below. We could see Busch Stadium, where the St. Louis Cardinals play, the riverboats rolling down the muddy-brown Mississippi River, and the historic courthouse where Dred Scott pled for his freedom. After several minutes of enjoying this birdís-eye view of the city, we made our final descent to secure ground below. All this activity worked up our appetites, so we stopped for a late lunch at TGIFridayís. Our second stop was going to be the Basilica of St. Louis, but we had misplaced our brochure with the address and were not able to find it. We actually stopped off at what we thought might be it, but it was just one of many beautiful churches dotted along the highway. Since the process of seeing the arch took much longer than we expected, we lacked the motivation to hunt down the Basilica and headed home instead. All of us were greatly disappointed, with the exception of Hudson, who had told me, ìI donít want to go see the pitty church.î He got his wish. My wish was to go to the Six Flags I frequented as a child, but the idea of standing in lines in the heat of August overruled my desire for a few thrill rides. So, we are now on our way to our next stop, Columbus, Indiana, south of Indianapolis. Linn got off the main highway, and the scenes passing by are of neatly mown, rolling hills with painted siding houses, an abundance of small ponds, and acres and acres of tall cornstalks. What a remarkable land we live in, where beauty lies around every bend!

Road to Kanakuk - JKS
08-06-2007
The end of July wrapped up three busy, fun-filled weeks of staying with Linn's parents, catching up with friends, celebrating our twin nieces' 4th birthday party, and running our kids around to various social events with their friends. If we hadn't have stopped back in Austin, it would have been a long year away from home. But I was refreshed and renewed, even admist all the activity, because I got my fill of fellowship. After many hugs goodbye we hit the road again. Our first stop was for two nights in Oklahoma. We got some pooltime there and heard some serious southern accents from the local people who lived there. We traveled again yesterday and passed through Carrie Underwood's hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, to our current location, a really nice RV resort on Table Rock Lake. The kids thought it was a shame we were only going to stay here one night, since we had to take them to camp the next day. But I clarified the fact that Mommy, Daddy, and Hudson are staying at the nice resort all week while they are at camp. :) We packed up the footlockers and checked our lists to make sure Kaylinn, Madison, and Bronson had all the necessary equipment for Kanakuk Klassic, one of many Christian sports camps in the Branson, MO, area. We arrived at 1:20, and there were two cars ahead of us at the closed gate. The gate would be opened at 2:00. So we sat and waited in the midwestern heat with the car running. A few minutes before the hour, Linn turned off the car, because the engine was getting hot. We opened the windows, but it didn't help much. Finally, a truck drove up, two Kanakuk staffers hopped out and unlocked the gates and the fun began. They had a camera rolling already, as a bunch of wild, strangely-dressed college kids came running toward us. They shouted, "Welcome to Kanakuk Klassic!" and high fived us from our open windows as they ran down the row of waiting cars. We drove in, got the kids signed in, and the staff took the footlockers to their appropriate cabins. I watched as a couple of the counselors brought the kids on stage and enthusiastically announced their names, hometowns, and what cabin they would be sent to. The kids then had to pass through a crowd of counselors, who high fived and welcomed them with whoops and hollars. Everywhere we looked there were activity centers, metal structures attached to ropes and such, a trampoline for slam-dunking a basketball, a "blob" in the pool, waterslides, a miniature golf course, and more! Linn and I wanted to stay and play. We visited each of our kids' cabins and helped get their bedding on the bunks. I know they all were a little nervous, because they don't know a soul, but I'm confident they'll make friends this week. Having home schooled our kids throughout their school years, Linn commented that this was the closest to sending our kids to "Kindergarten" that we have ever experienced. I'm a little anxious for them at the moment, but I anticipate a noisy car flooded with fun stories and camp songs on the way home from picking them up after closing ceremonies next Sunday. I know Hudson will be ready to see his siblings. It's going to be lonely in the camper, especially at bedtime, when we usually pray together and tuck them in. I hope and pray they will have a blast at camp and learn lots about loving Jesus and loving others at the same time. This mommy misses them already, but I'm also very excited for their time here. I trust God will use this time to mature their faith and teach them more about Himself.

A funny story... LS
08-06-2007
Our motor home is equipped with a remote, keyless entry system ,just like most cars have today. Additionally, it has a combination key pad on the side that can also be used to lock and unlock the door. Both access systems have been acting up, so when we left to take the kids to Kanakuk, I locked the door the old fashion way by using the key. Drove to Kanakuk, dropped the kids off - everything went fine - they will have a blast. Julie, Hudson and I stopped in Shell Knob on our way home at Stumpy Burger. It was the biggest, nastiest, best tasting burger I have ever had. We get back to our motor home and I try to unlock the door. I can't. I continue to try, half joking, half serious I suggest we stuff Hudson up the hatch for the trash. Julie responds, very matter of fact, "He couldn't unlock the door, but I can get up there." I look at her in disbelief and proceed to pull the step ladder out from the under-storage. We open the exterior door to the trash compartment, remove the trash can, pull out the counter top cover, put the ladder in place and up she goes. I am thinking to myself, "What a woman!" I just wish I had taken a picture. In the last five months she has become more ingenuitive than I ever thought possible. The whole trip has been worth it just to be able to tell this story.

On the road again... LS
08-04-2007
After three weeks back home in Austin, we are on the road again. We arrived at a KOA in Colbert, OK for a two night layover before moving on to Blue Eye, AR where we will stay while Kaylinn, Madison and Bronson to K Klassic at Kanukuk Kamps in Missouri. Our five-hour trip from Austin to just north of the Red River took seven hours thanks to catching Dallas rush hour. Those of us who complain about traffic in Austin do not realize how good we have it. Because we have five months of experience under our belts, all the anticipation, anxiety and excitement we were feeling in March has been replaced with a wonderful peace at knowing we are doing what I believe we are supposed to be doing right now. I feel incredibly comfortable, like I am home after a three-week vacation. I told my kids I missed them. During our time in Austin, all six of us were going in six different directions. We hardly saw each other. I know we all wanted to play catch up, see as many friends and do as much as we could, but I thought to myself if this is what life is going to be like when we get back, weíre just going to keep going. I have to remind myself that this is for a season and permanently living this way is not very practical. I am so grateful to our parents, without whose support we could not do this. They have enthusiastically encouraged us, cared for our kids, fed us and prayed for us. Thank you so much. We love you.

Back in Texas... LS
07-10-2007
We crossed the state line this afternoon after being out of Texas for four months. As we entered the gate to our campground there is a sign that says, "If siren sounds tune to 97.1 FM for more information." I'm not sure if that is for tornadoes or if there is a prison break at penitentiary a mile away. Either way, I am starting the engine and we are pulling out. I may sleep with the 45 under my pillow tonight. In the other direction are the strip clubs and adult magazine stores. I thought about commenting to the staff that checked us in what a nice part of town they are in, but since I am tired and we're only here one night I decided against it. I was outside for only a few minutes getting things hooked up and immediately noticed the humidity. Gotta love Texas.

Five Days with Friends - JKS
07-08-2007
Linn has already shared that we got to spend five wonderful days with good friends at their guest lodge in Norwood. If any of you are hunters, fly fishers, or just want to have a relaxing vacation in the Colorado mountains, you just need to give our friends, Lynn and Tom , a call. They are just 45 minutes from Telluride, if you like to ski, and they also do guided hunts. They can also line up any sort of outdoor activity, such as river rafting, ATVing, hiking, and horseback riding. As Linn said, Lynn and I went to high school together, and she and Tom were in my youth group at church. We shared lots of fun memories of wild times together (all without alcohol), and we had fun getting to know each other's children. One thing we enjoyed was cooking grits and eggs for them, because none of them had ever eaten grits before. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them and were sad to have it pass so quickly. We are so grateful for their hospitality, and we know that many who stay at their lodge are just as blessed as we were. Besides their company, one of the best things about staying there was how absolutely serene the surroundings were. We could look out our second-story bedroom window and see a quiet lake with beautiful mountains in the background. At night we left our windows open, and the cool breeze was enough air conditioning to keep the temperature just right for sleeping. Occasionally, I could hear coyotes howling in the distance. Fireworks in Telluride for Independence Day was absolutely spectacular, as the booms of the rockets echoed off the mountains. We also took a free gondola ride and got an amazing view of the Telluride Village and surrounding countryside. Our few days with friends was a great way to end this first leg of our trip. We are now in Alamosa, CO, and plan to see the Great Sand Dunes National Park tomorrow. This is actually one place Linn and I have been before, and we just had to let our kids see miles and miles of sand (over 300 miles) before making the journey home. Like Linn said, it is bittersweet to have this part of our trip over already, but I'm so very thankful to God for putting this on Linn's heart and allowing us to actually make it a reality for our family. We are anxious to see family and friends at home for a few weeks, catch our breath, and then head into the great unknown of the second portion of this incredible adventure!

Wing Shadow Ranch.... LS
07-06-2007
When we began talking about this trip one of the first places on our list to visit was Wing Shadow Ranch in Norwood Colorado. Wing Shadow is guest ranch and hunting lodge owned by Tom and Lynn Colander. Lynn and Julie went to high school together, and the four of us became friends after we were married and began attending the same church in Arvada Colorado. Our time with the Colanders and their two daughters, Kristina and Michelle, will remain one of our most memorable for years to come. Wing Shadow had just been remodeled and we had the privilege of helping them put things back in place. A first for me was to help hang elk mounts on the wall and roll a full size big horn sheep into position. One can not appreciate the size of these creatures until you are up close and personal with them. Julie and I went ATVing around the Gurley Lake, Tom taught me to fly fish, which is much more difficult than it looks, and we spent the 4th of July in Telluride sightseeing, shopping, eating dinner and watching one of the best fire works shows ever. While all of those things were fun it is their company and hospitality we enjoyed the most. They put us up in the Lodge and after four months of being in the motor home it was wonderful to spread out a little bit. On our last night there Tom made marsh mellow roasting skewers from tree branches and all the kids made smores. The following day both of our family's drove north to Montrose to attend a christian music festival in Olathe. We saw Tait, Barlow Girl and the News Boys - one of my favorites. It was a great way to wrap up this portion of our journey. As I reflect on these four months, all that we have seen, done and experienced it is bitter sweet. I am anxious to return home for a spell but sad that this portion of our life is over. Mostly I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced all that we have.

Back in the day... LS
07-01-2007
When I was young, good-looking and drove a Porsche, I would receive looks from the pretty girls when I drove around town. Today, when I cruise through town in my forty foot motorhome the only looks I receive are from envious grey headed old men. My how things have changed. The other morning at breakfast we met a man who took his wife and four children to live on a sail boat. For 11 years they sailed all over central and south America. I like the idea, but I can't think of a catchy domain name for a website. Yesterday when leaving the hot springs in Ouray, I was walking through the men's locker room with Bronson and Hudson. A man was in the birthday suit phase of changing clothes. Hudson sees this, point right at the man and as loud as can says "Haaaa!" I pretend I don't know the child, just kept walking and hoped the man does not respond. It was all I could not laugh potentially causing the man more embarrassment. Today, while in a gift shop in Silverton Hudson announces, "I just tooted!" Again, I pretend I don't know him and walk outside. What a kid. I often tell Julie I am so glad I talked her into having him. On Saturday, the man helping me fill up our propane tanks told me I was too young to be driving a rig like this. I told him I agree. I shared our adventure with him to which he thought that was wonderful. He then told me when his kids were young he kept a boat on Lake Powell and had an airplane. It took 45 minutes to fly from Cortez, CO to Lake Powell where they would spend each weekend waterskiing. I like that idea too, but still have the domain name problem.

Hooray for Ouray! JKS
06-30-2007
The day after our attempt to find Lake Powell my parents came for a short, but very sweet, visit. I wish I had taken a picture of the kidsí faces when they showed up at our campground. We played games and celebrated my momís and Madisonís birthdays. Since there was only one church in Monument Valley, which was a 7th Day Adventist, we opted to stay in the RV and listen to Pastor Ryanís message from Labor Day. We were all blessed and challenged to live lives of wholehearted devotion to God. And we are all getting more excited as the days draw nearer for our brief return to Austin before heading east of Texas. We canít wait to see our friends and family. Glad to leave the red dust of Monument Valley, we stopped at Four Corners on the way to Mesa Verde. Itís pretty cool to say youíve stood in four states at one time, but it was a small thrill for $3.00 per person. We had some more visitors at our Mesa Verde campground, a couple Linn and I met through his business conventions, and their three lovely daughters! Of course, our girls were happy to meet new friends and spend time with them. It was fun to have them join us for one small leg of our journey, and we are so grateful that they took the time and effort to come all the way from their home in Sandy, UT, to see us. We all went into the Mesa Verde National Park and enjoyed hiking down to ancient cliff dwellings, learning a little about the culture of the Native Americans who built them, and imagining what life must have been like for these people hundreds of years ago. The cliff dwellings are extremely well preserved for how old they are, and the kids especially enjoyed crawling through small spaces, climbing really tall ladders, and stepping out onto the cliff face with just a fence to keep us from falling. After a day of exploring these places in the hot sun, we were more than ready to go for a swim back at the campground. The next day Linn and Brad went to play golf in Durango, which resulted in Linnís joke that turned sour, and JaNel and I took all our kids to the pool, where we soaked up some rays and enjoyed the gorgeous day God had given us. We ordered pizza for dinner from a little place in Mancos to celebrate Madisonís birthday a few days early, and Mancos Pizza sure knows how to do it right! I was extremely grateful that the Snows like Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza, because this is one of my favorite topping combinations. However, I never order it with my family because no one else likes it. We had to say goodbye to more friends, but we will take with us the memory of fun times together until next time. Our last day, we drove to Durango and went to the Durango and Silverton Train Station. Hudson loved climbing onto the trains in the museum, and we watched a film that showed how several men rebuilt the old steam engines to keep them in operation today. Hudson used some of his money to buy a train book and puzzle and went home happy. Back in Cortez, I took advantage of our last day there to go to the SuperWalMart (my new favorite shopping place) and load up on groceries. On Friday we traveled to Ouray, and after talking to several different people, we still canít figure out the right way to say it. I donít care how you say it, itís absolutely beautiful here, and I think we must put this on our list of places we have to visit again! We are near Telluride, so we could also turn it into a winter vacation spot for skiing. Ouray is in a little valley in the middle of tall mountain peaks, with a river running through it. The town has two thirds of its original buildings, completely restored. There is a hot springs pool here, and the nice thing about this one is that it doesnít have that sulfur smell at all! Itís open from 10:00 in the morning until 9:45 at night, so you can get your hand stamped, leave, and come back in the evening. The pool is divided into several sections, which each have a different temperature. There are two fun waterslides that empty into a cool zone, a warmer, shallow section that is about 95 degrees, and then the hot pool, which is between 102 and 106. Today is Madisonís birthday, so this was definitely the way to celebrate. Unfortunately, Hudson had a messy accident in his swimming trunks while at the playground, so we had to go home, clean him up, eat lunch, and rest a while. He is totally potty trained now, but for some reason he has trouble figuring out that he can stop playing for just one minute, use the nearby potty, and then go right back to the playground. This is probably the third time he has done this. I hope itís the last. We went back to the pool for a couple more hours and just enjoyed the tremendous 360-degree view. We then came home to fix Madisonís request for dinner ñ cheeseburgers. Of course, we had cake, balloons, and presents, and she gets to pick out a new bike when we get home. Not bad for 11, Iíd say. She just came in to report that Daddy gave her 11 spankings. Thatís his favorite part. Tomorrow, we plan to worship at 1st Baptist and drive up some switchbacks to Silverton on Highway 550. We were warned not to come to Ouray via this route, so now we have to go see what we missed. Okay, this is rather long, as usual, and I need to go pray with my family and kiss the kiddos goodnight! God bless all of you who are taking this journey with us and praying for us along the way.

I am so sorry...
06-28-2007
After a few phone calls from distraught friends of Kaylinn and Madison, in addition to angry emails threatening bodily harm I realize what a bad joke the "Moving to Durango" entry was. I will not do it again. I promise. We'll be home in two weeks and I can't wait.

Back in Colorado... LS
06-27-2007
We left Monument Valley Utah on Monday. To this point, I have not been so glad to leave a place as I was Monument. I am glad we saw it and the fact that Julie's parents were able to join us for a night made it a great stay, but I wish we did not stay four nights. It is literally one of those towns where if you blink you could miss it. Other than driving the highways to see the unusual rock formations there is nothing else to do. They do offer tours at prices I failed see as reasonable allowing you to get up close and personal with the petrified red formations, but we opted against it. Our attempt to get to Lake Powell was a disappointment in that we never really reached it, so most of our time was spent by the indoor pool. I speculate it is indoors because to keep it clean with all of the blowing red dust would be a monumental task. Why anyone lives in that area is beyond me. Getting back to the beauty and majesty of Colorado causes me to smile. The comfortable mid-eighty degree days and cool night is a welcome relief to 100 plus highs in Utah. On Tuesday we went into Mesa Verde National Park to see the cliff dwellings. While Mesa Verde in not as scenic as most of the other parks it does offer the most interactive, hands on experience we have had so far. The tours of the dwellings allow you to climb in, on and around them. We had to climb up 32-foot ladders and crawl through small tunnels that someone much larger than me would have difficulty getting through. The kids loved it and I love watching the kids love it. We have been joined by the Snow family, from Salt Lake, a couple we have gotten to know over the years through my business. We have enjoyed our time with them and their three daughters. Brad and I played golf today and I made a life altering decision. See earlier blog entry titled "We're moving to Durango" After a little pizza party for Madison's 11th birthday, the Snows packed up and headed for home. We have one more day here before moving on to Ouray, CO.

We're moving to Durango! NOT REALLY!!
06-27-2007
Today I played golf at Dalton Ranch Golf Club a few miles north of Durango. It was a beautiful setting, surrounded by mountains, an excellent golf course and a great neighborhood. Several homes where on the market. One in particular was on the 18th fairway with a river on the other side. A realtor was coming out of the house as we past by on our golf cart and I stopped to inquire. I learned it is in foreclosure and the bank will take practically any offer as long as it covered their mortgage balance. She told me the amount and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I asked her to draft a contract and bring it by our campsite this evening. After golf and returning to the campground I told Julie what I have done. She shook her head in disbelief and told me I could not do that without talking to her. I agreed and told her to come see it before saying no. She has agreed, and we should close in three weeks. We plan to stay in Colorado until then and return to Austin to make arrangements to relocate to Durango. ----------------------------------------While much of this story is true, the portions about the house being in foreclosure and our plans to move to Durango are fabricated. Purely to see who is paying attention. We'll see you in Austin in about two weeks.

Missing Strock Family?
06-23-2007
I have heard there is some really great skiing in Utah, but we have not been far enough north in the state to see mountainous country. Instead, between Moab and Monument Valley, we have experienced mile after mile of unusual red rock formations contrasted against blue sky and small green shrubbery. This land seems as foreign to me as the lush, temperate forests of northern California. Not realizing how remote our current campground would be, Linn checked on the GPS to see how far Bryce Canyon and Zion are from us. We determined, very sadly, that the drive from here is too far, and we will have to make a visit to them in the future. We did, however, decide we could handle a supposedly 1.75-hour drive to Lake Powell. Following the instructions, we found ourselves on the Bicentennial scenic byway, where we scarcely passed another vehicle. After driving well beyond the timeframe allotted on our map, we finally saw a sign for the Lake Powell Ferry ñ 40 miles further! Needless to say, we turned around and stopped for lunch at the only picnic site for miles. We headed back the way we came, looking for something we must have missed. Finding a sign that read ìLake Powell Access 3 miles,î we turned down a red dirt road for our destination. As we progressed along this unpaved road into the canyon, my mind began to dwell on the fact that we were literally in the middle of nowhere, basically in desert land in the heat of the day, with no cell phone reception! I immediately began to take inventory, and we had several bottles of water with us. That eased my mind somewhat. I prayed we wouldnít get a flat tire or other sort of mechanical malfunction. I was already mentally going over survival skills the girls and I recently read from a book for science this year. I could see us finding shelter in the shade of a big rock, waiting for the sun to go down, munching on unused remnants of lunch. Then, as the sun went down, we would walk the three miles back to the highway and hail any car we could find to take us back to civilization. Praise God, the car held out, and we made it to the end of the road (now would we get back out?), where there stood one lone pit toilet. Just before we reached it, we noticed two men with straw hats on walking in our direction. I rolled down the window and asked them where the lake was. They reported it was just ahead about 100 feet. We drove up to where we could see water, and our eyes beheld some muddy, brown water that appeared to be nothing more than a river. This was not at all what we expected to get out of this 2-plus-hour drive. We had brought suits, towels, and sunscreen to swim, if possible. Where was the great lake upon which thousands of vacationers descend to rent houseboats and engage in fun water recreation?!!! Trying to look on the bright side, we did enjoy the incredible scenery all around us, including the crossing of the Colorado River, petrified sand dunes, rock walls and towers of all shapes and sizes, beautiful canyons, a 10% grade climb and descent along an unpaved S-curve road, and the ìMexican Hat Rock.î We were also enraptured by the final episode of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle. Despite our disappointment of not reaching the lake, everyone seemed not to mind too terribly. It was all just another dayís adventure. Iím just thankful to God that no one had to call a search and rescue team to find our family!

Enjoying nothing... LS
06-21-2007
Yesterday we did absolutely nothing. No school, no sight seeing no activity whatsoever, which I enjoy. Julie has a hard time with enjoying nothing. Wasting time does not fit into her modes operandi. Surprisingly, she did not protest and toward the end of the day she only said one time we should have done school. We debated about going into the Canyonlands National Park, but after looking at the website and watching a 15 minute video we decided it was more of what we have already seen at Arches. The fact that it was going to be 100 degrees helped in our decision to do nothing. Our plan was to wait until the end of the day, go into Moab, eat dinner at Miguel's Baja Mexican Restaurant where I would have the M.O.A.B - Mother of all Burritos. I did and it was a lot more than nothing - I couldn't finish it. Afterward, when the heat had wained, we went back into Arches to watch the sunset and the stars come out. I don't think I have seen stars like these since we were in Fort Davis Texas - spectacular. I enjoyed sitting there with Julie and our kids enjoying God's art show while listening to nothing. Today we made the shortish drive to Monument Valley, Utah. More red rocks, sand and heat. It is all beautiful in an arid sort of way, but I prefer green and a little humidity. Julie and the kids are at the indoor air conditioned swimming pool while I write this. While considering this stop I looked to see how far it is from Phoenix where Julie's parents live - only six hours. I emailed them, suggested they look into getting a cabin or hotel room and drive up to see us. To our delight they are and will be here on Saturday. We have not told the kids, so they will be surprised. The count down to our return to Austin has begun and the excitement of being back is as nearly as great as it was to leave three and a half months ago. Just to make sure we do not get lulled into staying, I made reservations at campgrounds in August so we have to hit the road again, but we'll be back.

Father's Day
06-17-2007
As Linn mentioned, it was bittersweet leaving Colorado, especially since we only saw a few of our friends who live here. Fortunately, my sister was able to join us again in Breckenridge last night, and the kids had so much fun playing the game of Life, with her humor added in. She really has a gift of making people laugh, and I will miss being around her. Linn made pancakes for breakfast, and we said our goodbyes. The beautifully landscaped, spacious sites at Tiger Run spoiled us, because now we are in a dinky little site in Moab, just a few feet away from the RV beside us. Linn had to do some fancy maneuvering just to get us in our spot. It is pretty, though, with lots of trees. It is also much warmer here; the high was 102. Iím excited to see what God has in store for us here. As we celebrate Fatherís Day tomorrow, I canít help but smile when I think about my good Father in Heaven, who loves me so much that He sent His only Son to pay the penalty for my sins. ìYet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husbandís will, but born of God.î (John 1:12-13). He is faithful and true. He understands. He cares. He is able to help me at all times. He is a refuge in times of trouble. He forgives me. He sees me. He knows me. He counsels me. He guides me. He disciplines me. Nothing can separate me from His love. There is nothing I can do to make Him love me more. There is nothing I can do to make Him stop loving me. Thatís the Father I know. And it is my prayer that you know Him, too.

I can breathe... LS
06-16-2007
We left Breckenridge today and arrived in Moab, UT this evening. Despite our efforts to extend our stay in Breckenridge I am relieved to be at lower elevation. At night while trying to go to sleep I felt like I could not catch my breath. Today it was 102 degrees in Moab, so we have traded thin air for oppressive heat. I prefer thin air. We tried to extend our stay in Breckenridge because last night during my pre-move day routine I was loading the bikes on the back of the Suburban when a man walking his dog asked me how I like our motorhome. I learned he has a 2003 model. Continuing our conversation we also learned we are bothers in Christ and enjoy the great game of golf. I wanted the opportunity to play golf with and learn more about Kent's involvement in an organization called Pinnacle Forum. We pray frequently for God to allow us to meet who He wants us to meet. Meeting Kent and his wife, Shelly, this morning before we left was certainly an answer to that prayer. Thank you, Father. While moving day is still stressful, I've come to enjoy it. It has become "my time". Julie and the kids are doing school and I get to focus on the task of driving and enjoy the beautiful scenery passing by. Some of it is mundane, but most of it is spectacular. When a great vista reveals itself I'll yell out "Postcard", my code word for stop what you are doing and look at what is before us, so the rest of the family can enjoy the moment. I think about everything from where we have been to where we are going. I think about business, our eventual return home and what else God has in store for us. I pray for my children, my wife and thank God for this opportunity. While sitting up in bed, this morning, I was looking out the window at pine covered mountains and the snow caps beyond. I told Julie I am going to miss this when it is over. I'm looking forward to being home, but I am going to miss this.

Breckenridge... LS
06-15-2007
With our time in Breckenridge nearly over, we leave tomorrow morning, I find myself missing Colorado already. I played golf today at Breckenridge Golf Club, a Jack Nicolas design, and found myself distracted by the majesty of the snowcapped mountains. I didnít play particularly well, but enjoyed the round because at over 9,000 feet I was hitting the ball a club or two longer than I do in Austin. Our campground, http://www.tigerrunresort.com/, is by far the nicest we have stayed at so far. Each site is privately owned, but managed and maintained by a homeownerís association. The sites are huge by RV park standards and beautifully landscaped. As a Fatherís Day gift the kids (Julie) made me an appointment to get a massage ñ I canít wait. Yesterday, Julie and I decided to take the kids on a hike we did several times when we lived in Denver. The Gaunella Pass Road above Georgetown has been vastly improved since we were here last, and I could not find the trail head. Continuing along the road we ended up in Grant, CO. A place I had never been before, and without my GPS I was lost. Desiring not to return the way we just came I swallowed my pride, and sent Julie into a little store to ask for directions. We were told to head west to Fairplay and then north on Highway 9 to Breckenridge. What a beautiful drive. We stopped in Fairplay for lunch and were pleasantly surprised to find such a nice little cafÈ. One of many objectives for this trip is to not eat anywhere I can in Austin. Excluding an occasional Pizza Hut or Dominos we have done a pretty good job of experiencing the local fair. I am looking forward to our time in Utah. It will be so unlike everything we have experienced so far. Treeless, strange rock formations and desert like as opposed to mountainous and green. From time to time I will read our old entries and I am reminded of our excitement and enthusiasm for this trip. It is not that we are no longer excited, but the novelty has worn off and this life has become ìnormalî for us. It is sort of sad when we go see another amazing creation and we are no longer awe struck. We have or I have become callus to the magnificent. I donít want to be like that, I want to always be impressed by the impressive.

I need a haircut... LS
06-11-2007
I need a haircut. Initially, I thought Iíd let it grow, so that when it came time for the comb over Iíd have plenty to work with, but I canít take it anymore. I walked into five salons, called two others in Estes Park and none of them could fit me in. I feel like a sheep dog. Attending college and living in Denver during our early married years brings back good memories. The streets and scenery are familiar. It feels a little like home. We have spent our time with old friends from college and our early married years, as well as a visit from friends in Austin. Julie and the kids were able to spend an afternoon with her sister and she came up to Estes so Julie and I could celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary by going to church to see more old friends. Speaking of church, we have been to a variety of churches on this journey, but this was certainly the most non-traditional. Everything from meeting on Saturday night, the numerous tattoos and body piercings on the praise team members to the pastor wearing jeans and an untucked, wrinkled polo shirt screamed ìthis is not your dadís Baptist churchî. Godís spirit was present; the preaching was powerful and spoke to me. I told Julie on the way home that I am so glad there are churches like that. They reach a segment of the population a traditional church would never have a chance to reach. The Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful and majestic. We didnít see much wildlife during our three ventures into the park, but there is something exciting about being above 12,000 feet. Maybe it's just that I can't breath. The vistas are spectacular and go on for miles. I may have had the best hamburger ever at Penelopeís in Estes Park. I canít think of a better one. A herd of elk, including a young bull, wandered into our campground and at times were only a few feet from our coach. Previously, I had reservations made two or three weeks in advance, but I got lazy and paid the price. We planned on our next stop to be in Glenwood Springs, but the only campground in the area was booked. So tomorrow we leave for Breckenridge instead. Having learned my lesson, I have made reservations all the way back to Austin. These last few weeks my faith has faltered as I focus more on my circumstances and less on the Lover of my soul. My business, which is historically consistent without much ebb and flow, has been uncharacteristically turbulent. The ups are good, but the downs have been enough to make me question whether to return home or continue our journey. The constant battle for me to take back control of my life vs. trusting God to provide has been more difficult of late. I tend to fall into a formula mentality in my relationship with God. If I do this, God will do that. My expectations for relinquishing the throne of my life have not been realized. At least not in the way I wanted. What I am learning is that I still have a lot more to learn about trusting God. I still have a great deal of pride and I still believe I have to do it on my own. I donít want to do it on my own, I donít want to be prideful and I want to trust God completely. Father, please help me trust you.

Great fellowship and familiar roads
06-09-2007
I will always remember Thermopolis, Wyoming, as the place where we didnít make it to the end of the trail (like the fish that got away). Linn and I both didnít realize you still had some good elevation in Wyoming. The mountain drive up Tensleep Creek was amazing, and the signpost did not mention how far we would need to walk before finding West Tensleep Creek Falls. We started out way too late, didnít bring enough layers, and the sun began to sink in the sky. It had a beautiful effect in the foggy forest, though, as it shone through the trees in bright beams of light. I think we forgot the camera, too, so Iíll just have to remember the sight in my mindís eye. Our next stop was Estes Park, CO, and Linn actually made me stop teaching school so we could look at the mountains as we drove through the narrow gulch along the river. Although California was so very beautiful, I do not believe there is anything like the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I suppose I am partial to the Colorado Rockies because of my time spent here in my youth. If there is one thing I miss living in Austin, itís the majesty of the mountains always standing to the west. One wonderful thing I got to do was share them with good friends. Linn had arranged for a birthday surprise with a visit from two very special people, and they joined me here in Estes, where I got to spend two nights with them in the Stanley Hotel (where The Shining was filmed!) We thoroughly enjoyed our time, shopping from 9 to 5 in this famous tourist town and talking into the wee hours of the morning. Their visit certainly encouraged my spirit and blessed my heart. Yesterday, Linn got to enjoy a beautiful, sunny Colorado day of golf with a good friend in Denver, while I took the Suburban downtown with the kids to see my sister. We got to see her apartment, and she showered them with gifts, as always. We enjoyed a few hours together in the city. We took the free bus along the 16th Street Mall and ate lunch at the Hard Rock CafÈ. Then we walked along the Platte River and let the kids wade in a shallow section. Our time was much too short, and we are anxiously awaiting her arrival this morning in Estes to spend more time with her. After we left, I took a drive down memory lane and showed the kids Mommy and Daddyís first apartments and house, as well as the two houses I lived in with my parents at different times. I also took them by my high school before driving on up to meet Linn and have dinner with the James family. We enjoyed more wonderful fellowship with old friends and believers in Jesus and getting to know their children. The hardest thing for me being so close to Denver is not having the time to go see all of our old friends. It has already been three years since we had come back to Denver for my 20th high school reunion and seen so many of them. They will just have to make their way to Austin sometime!!!! We still have two more days in Estes Park, and this is an open invitation to any and all to drive the short trip to see us (Dean and Nikki, David and Delane, Dianna and Paul, Debbie and John, Geri and Don, Brian and Deidra, Karrie and Chet, C.J. and Linda, Jeff and Shelly McCarron)! We could even drive to Covenant Heights to see our old church camp somewhere close by. Ah, memories! Good times. Great friends.

God of Wonders... JKS
06-02-2007
Ephesians 3:20 says, ìNow to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.î I cannot say it any better than that. God has been so gracious to our family over the past three months, and He just keeps getting BIGGER and BIGGER. My eyes have seen so much beauty, more than my mind can even begin to comprehend. And today was just the ìicing on the cake,î so to speak. We headed back into Yellowstone for our final day of exploration, and I think we have driven over 75% of the parkís roads. Not far from the parkís west entrance there is a bald eagleís nest, and every time we drive by, we look to see if Mama is perched somewhere nearby. We saw her soaring high above this morning. And I havenít gotten tired of seeing multiple herds of bison and young calves throughout the park, as well as the lone ones lying unexpectedly along the roadside or even strolling right down the center line of the road, as if to say, ìI own this place.î Having already encountered black bears, my greatest quest for the day was to find a grizzly. No, I do not have a death wish, and I would rather not come across one on a hike, but my eyes scanned the whole park as we drove, trying desperately to spy one of those great creatures in its natural habitat. We stopped off at Tower Falls, a place our immediate family already visited on our first day in the park, because we were passing by it a second time and wanted to show it to Linnís parents, who were following us in their truck. Linnís dad is a bird enthusiast, and we were thrilled to show him the baby owl tucked in a burned out hollow in the top of a tall, dead tree trunk that another fellow had been so kind as to show us a few days ago. Then, while we were gazing at the waterfall, we noticed others looking far up a cliff, where a female bighorn sheep and her baby stood. Our next stop was lunch, so we found a picnic area on the way to a hike we wanted to take. Once again, there were several cars parked on the side of the road and people staring through humongous binoculars and camera lenses at something. Driving slowly by them, we could not tell what they were looking at. We went just a little ways past them to the Yellowstone River Picnic Area and began making sandwiches to fill our grumbling bellies. Linnís dad darted off in the direction of the spectators and came back with film of a male bighorn sheep in his video camera viewfinder and a huge grin on his face. After chowing down, Linn and Kaylinn headed off to see it, and Madison, Bronson, and I hurried after. The sheep had moved, but Linn had followed, and we all came back with the satisfaction of having seen him. Next, we drove to the trailhead for Slough Creek, which was listed in a book Luke loaned us on hikes in Yellowstone. On the way down the dirt road to the beginning of the trail, we noticed a small group of people with binoculars pointed at the cliff. We stopped the car and joined them to find out they had their gear aimed at a golden eagleís nest, with mama bird sitting by her babies. What an incredible sight! We moved on down the road to park the car at the Slough Creek trailhead and began our hike. Walking along this old wagon train route we noticed large horseshoe prints, like those of a Clydesdale. Cute little ground squirrels scampered over to check us out and made noises I donít even know how to describe. Further along the road Papa spotted some creatures on top of a boulder, and we grabbed our binoculars to take a peek. We decided these were yellow-bellied marmots, and they brought us much amusement as we drew nearer and they hid in the crevice in the rock. When they thought we had walked on by, they would peak out from the crack and hide again when they realized we were still there. The sign at the entrance to this trail warned us of bears, of course, and what to do if one attacked. We didnít see any bears on this hike, although we were very close to Lamar Valley, where a ranger on Monday said he had seen some grizzlies on a ridge. The sign also mentioned that there was a wolf reintroduction zone near this trail as well, so we kept our eyes on the lookout, as this was one of the few creatures we had left to see in Yellowstone. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on who you ask, we did not see any wolves, either. We ended our hike at Slough Creek, a beautiful spot opening up to a meadow with a snow-spotted mountain range beyond it. We noticed an unusual black-and-white duck and some pretty bluish birds swooping down onto the water to catch bugs. Turning around at this point, I carried Hudson piggyback most of the return trip. We did see some sort of young buck on the way back, as well as an old, large rack of antlers lying down the hill from it. Quite tired after our trek, which passed through aspen and Douglas fir groves and flat, marshy areas, we climbed back into the car and the long drive back to West Yellowstone. In those moments I was thinking we had probably just lost our chance to see a grizzly, because we will not be back in this section of the country until who knows when. Somewhat disappointed, I kept searching the hills, especially in areas our map had pointed out as possible places to see one. As we neared a pullout where people had yet more cameras and telescopes, Linn pulled over and let me get out. I just had to ask what they were looking at, because they were looking out over a known bear reserve. When the lady said ìa grizzly and her cub,î I squealed with excitement, ìIíve been waiting to see one all week!î She kindly let me look into her scope, and there they were! I promptly turned to Linn and frantically waved at them to get out of the car and cross the road to have a look. Everyone piled out, and the people with their lenses already set on the bears were so kind as to lower them for the kids to see as well. They were so far across the valley on a hillside, Mama and her not-so-little one; they looked just like a black speck to the naked eye. And they were absolutely precious! I was in awe. There they were, strolling side by side along the grassy hillside, completely unaware of all the people watching them from afar. Not wanting to leave, but delighted at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we got back in the car to finish the journey home. Further down the road, I caught sight of two huge animals with antlers, and Iím not sure if they were mule deer or elk. Linn got a good picture, so someone who knows can tell us what they are! Not too long after that we saw more people on the side of the road, and to our left, trotting along the river, was a coyote. And last, but certainly not least, as we exited the park we saw the bald eagle perched on a tree right by the road, the closest view we have had of this king of bird. It was the perfect end to another blessed day that the Lord had made, one I will never forget.

A Perfect Evening... LS
05-30-2007
Nearly three months into our journey and Julie and I have not had a ìdateî since before leaving Austin. With my parents joining us at Yellowstone we took advantage of the free babysitters, found a nice restaurant and enjoyed a couple of hours together without children. The food was good, the atmosphere was great and the company was the best. We had dinner at the N Bar Ranch, a rustic log cabin Inn on several acres surrounded by mountains. We talked about our journey so far, all we have seen and experienced, what is ahead and our expectations for returning to Austin. While we hope God reveals a greater purpose for us through this experience, if all that comes from it is the opportunity to have spent this time with our children it will have been worth it. Even now we are praying that when we return we will not be discontent with ìnormalî life

A Perfect Day... LS
05-29-2007
A couple of weeks ago while stopping to refill our propane tank; the man helping me grew up in Wyoming and had spent a lot of time in Yellowstone. He told me the secret to spotting wildlife. Wherever cars are stopped and pulled off the side of the road there is sure to be wildlife. Today, in Yellowstone, his advice proved true. Not long after we entered the park a tour bus and several vehicles had pulled off the road. From some distance away I saw a large bird perched atop a dead tree. It was a bald eagle. A nest was nearby and the eagle sat there watching us watch him or her. Continuing on, there were herds of buffalo, a few mule deer and several pair of Canadian geese with goslings in tow. We got close up and personal with some buffalo who decided the road was easier to travel on than the grassy meadow or forest and slowed vehicle traffic to a buffaloís pace. Yellowstone is so large and so spread out it takes hours just to drive through the park. Determined to drive the north loop today, we headed toward Mammoth Hot Springs. As impressive as the site is, the kids were most impressed by the smell and how much the springs smell like the bathroom after I have been in it. Iím sure I donít know what they are talking about. Turning down a road to see a petrified tree, several cars had pulled off and dozens of people with cameras were all looking in the same direction. Craning our necks to see what it was, one of the kids said, ìBear!î I quickly found a place to park and all six Strocks poured out of the car to join the crowd. I clicked off several pictures when someone said, ìThereís a moose.î Sure enough, maybe a hundred yards from the bear was a young bull. Neither was aware of the otherís presence, but the moose was walking in the bearís direction. Everyone stood watching, waiting like spectators at NASCAR hoping for a wreck. As they got closer, the ranger told us to get behind a vehicle in case either animal decided to run in our direction. The moose continued toward the bear, and when they spotted each other, the bear sort of flinched and the moose bolted in the direction he had come. After a few minutes, the moose started back toward the bear, giving him a little more room, and began grazing again once he was a safe distance away. Julie, the kids and I were thrilled to see a bear, and then to witness the encounter with a moose was most fortuitous. All that is left to see is a bull Elk, which, if we do not see at Yellowstone, I am told, we will see at the Rocky Mountain National Park. It is difficult to compare the national parks for the purpose of determining a favorite. Each has attributes from scenic beauty to experiences that make each unique and special. Yellowstone is diverse in its topography ñ from meadows to mountains, high plains to canyons, calm lakes to white water rapids and more wildlife than I had anticipated. Add the geysers, and the whole geothermal element makes it is difficult to say Yellowstone is not my favorite. A day that was forecast for rain turned sunny and warm. Not long after we returned to our house on wheels it began to snow, Julie fixed Chili for dinner, I made a fire and my mom read the kids a ghost story. I sat near the fire completely content, marveling at all we had experienced, how God had smiled on us. It was a perfect day.

The Channer Campground... LS
05-26-2007
It has been nearly two weeks since my last entry. I havenít felt particularly inspired as of late. Our days of travel have been frequent and long; moving on every three days or less and driving 6,7,8 hours or more is less than ideal for me. I am glad we are able to learn from our experiences. While I constantly fight the urge to see as much as possible, we have decided to slow our pace, enjoy where we are more and consequently see fewer sights. Julie and I decided to cut Devilís Tower and Mt. Rushmore from our plans to give us more time in Colorado and Utah. Today, we arrived at www.yellowstonekoa.com and will be here to explore the Yellowstone National Park for a week. My parents arrive tomorrow and everyone is looking forward to spending this time with them. -------------- The highlights of the last two weeks are certainly Crater Lake, multiple waterfalls in the Umpqua National Forest of Oregon and what little we were able to see of Glacier National Park. Our goal to be in Yellowstone before the crowds meant getting to Glacier before most of the park was open. Going to the Sun Road was closed and the round trip around the park was more than I was willing to make, so we did not get to experience the grandeur of Glacier. The best part has been the last three days with the Channers, at their home in Corvallis Montana. Luke and I became friends while on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic the summer after I graduated from High School. Weíve kept in touch over the years, but have not seen each other in over 15 years. Our three days at their home was a good reunion, we got to know his wife, Jennifer, and their two children Madison and Luke. Our kids enjoyed becoming friends and playing with them. I came away refreshed and encouraged by their hospitality and example of a Christian home. They made dinner and cotton candy for us the first night, took us out for pizza and made homemade ice cream the second night. Fed us again the third night and sent us away this morning after fixing a pancake breakfast ñ I didnít want to leave.

First day in Glacier - JKS 5/20
05-21-2007
Sundays have become just as much a part of the adventure as our sightseeing, as each one is new and unique. This week we joined believers at New Covenant Fellowship for lively worship and a wonderful message from a guest speaker who had pastured an area church for 22 years. He spoke with wisdom, passion, and conviction. I learned from the account of Jacob running away from Esau that sometimes when we arenít even looking, God shows up. That has certainly been true in my life, and Iím so thankful for His loving pursuit of me. This afternoon, we drove to Glacier National Parkís West entrance. I stopped off in the visitor center to get a trail map for tomorrowís visit, so we could study our options and make preparations. According to the man at the counter, 80% of Glacierís beauty is on the EAST side of the park from two to several hours away. He showed me our only two options for the day, because we could only travel 16 miles on Going-to-the-Sun Road. The day was overcast, so fog on the mountains prevented us from getting the really scenic view, but the McDonald Lake was quite a sight even without the whole picture. We chose to hike a 2-mile trail along Avalanche Creek. Linn took Hudson back to the car after the first mile, when we realized one of us would be carrying him on the return trek. They both dozed off while the big kids and I ventured onward. We still had another mile to go, and the kids were growing weary. When we finally reached our destination, we were once again in awe of the panoramic view before our eyes. Three distant waterfalls descended an enormous rock formation, and Avalanche Lake spread out before us smooth as glass. We tried to spy eagles in the sky above, but we only saw some type of cliff swallows flitting around in circles. We rested on a tree-trunk bench and took in the scene. We would have to remember this one in our mindsí eyes, because we inadvertently left the camera in the car. Although the sign at the entrance to the trail said we were entering grizzly country, there were none to be seen today. However, we did see a rather large doe, of a different type than used to graze often in our yard in Dripping Springs. Since it was late in the afternoon and I was anxious to get back to the boys, we headed back at a quick pace, with Madison leading most of the way. The girl should join a cross country team! We made it back in 36 minutes (not including one brief rest). The kids did great. That was certainly the most strenuous hike weíve done so far. Linn had a hankeriní for fried chicken, so we stopped at KFC to put back on all those calories weíd just shed. And I wonder why Iím GAINING weight on this trip. Linnís not helping, either. He slipped a box of Hostess Ding Dongs into the cart on our last grocery trip when I wasnít looking! We ended the day by sipping coffee by a campfire and watching the bunnies munching on grass and hopping to and fro. We have noticed at least four of them so far, and they look like pets, but they wonít let you get to close before disappearing under the deck at the cabin next door. This is another quiet RV park, far off the highway. So we should get a good nightís sleep, as long as the chaperoned high school kids behind us behave.

Three Falls - JKS, 5/18
05-19-2007
Yesterday after school, the family hopped in the car to go hike the trail to Toketee Falls. Linn stopped in the RV park office to get an idea of how far it was, and the lady pointed out two other waterfalls that we ìhad to see.î I donít know what Oregon is known for, but it ought to be called ìThe Land of Waterfalls.î Youíd think that if youíve seen one, youíve seeníem all, but each one is uniquely beautiful. We saw Toketee Falls first, and the name is from Chinook, meaning ìprettyî or ìgraceful.î I think that word is an understatement, but I canít come up with anything better. Youíll just have to look at the picture and see for yourself. Our second hike was to Watson Falls, which was only º mile to the lookout. The forest service had constructed a great bridge walkway right over the fast-flowing water, large boulders, and fallen trees, so we could see the falls from the middle of the river. At first glance, I only noticed the lower portion of the falls over bright green, moss-covered rocks. But my eyes wandered higher and caught sight of a tall cliff face with a massive downpour of water to the rocks below. Although we couldíve stopped there, we noticed that the trail continued. Curiosity and an adventurous spirit drove me on up the hillside with Madison and Bronson, and we were rewarded with a most spectacular experience. We were now level and just to the right of those upper falls and could see and hear the water crashing hard against the rocks. The sheer force of it sent cold mist about 30 feet back up to where we were standing, and the ground beneath our feet was muddy from the spray. Kaylinn, Daddy, and Hudson soon appeared on the trail, and we all delighted in the moment. Not wanting to get drenched completely, we began our descent. On the way back down, Hudson told me, ìI need a nap.î Considering we had to wake Hudson from a short snooze in the car, he had been extremely amiable on the two trails. Our final destination was Clear Water Falls, and it was just off the highway not far from our RV park. We parked and walked through a picnic area to the falls. At the bottom of these falls was a shallow river with many tree trunks stretched across its width. I couldnít resist. I stood up and took a few steps. With an encouraging nudge from Linn, his comment ìIf you fall here, you wonít die,î I carefully stepped across. Of course, once the kids saw me on the other side, they had to try. Even Linn had to one-up me by taking the skinnier log! Bronson, the more cautious one, much to my satisfaction, chose to straddle the log and scoot across. I kept an eye on Hudson to make sure he made no attempt, but he seemed quite content to remain straddling the log over land. Good boy, very relieved Mama, and great day!

Peace and Quiet - JKS 5/16
05-17-2007
Finally out of California, we crossed over the border into Oregon and made our way to Diamond Lake. We arrived at the Diamond Lake RV Park on their scheduled opening day for the season, although they told us the weather had been so pretty, they actually opened the day before. When we stepped out of our home on wheels to check out our surroundings, the fragrant scent of pine trees filled my nostrils. This is a familiar and beloved smell to me, as it brings me back to my Colorado days. A little chipmunk sat on the picnic table nearby to welcome us. This is by far the most remote and woodsy camp weíve been to, as we havenít been able to hook up inside any of the national parks yet; most do not have full hookups, which is hardly an option with six of us using the ñ well, you get the idea. The chipmunk was not the only one to greet us. The mosquitoes very promptly made their presence known to us also. Thus, I made a dash for the bug spray. Linn made a fire and put out the Citronella torches, and we warmed ourselves by the fire on a chilly night, while reading spooky stories from a book we bought at the only local store for miles. The kids didnít seem to mind too badly that we had to miss American Idol due to no TV reception or cable hookups out here. Quite literally in the middle of nowhere, I would have to drive 85 miles for the nearest grocery store. We prayed with the kids, which has become a treasured bedtime ritual in our family, and Linn and I went back outside to relish a few quiet moments by the campfire. As the flames died down and the embers faded to black, we realized how dark this place is at night. For once, we are far from a busy thoroughfare and there are no lights to speak of. Now, this is the way all campgrounds should be! The Big Dipper shone brightly through the treetops. In the morning I made coffee, and the adults rose early to sit outside and read. The morning air was cool and foggy, so we did not see the sun although it was already light out b 6:00 a.m. I cannot see the birds here, but I can hear them. Some of them have a sing-song call, stepping down a minor third. It echoes through the trees, and it finally dawned on me what it sounded like. I yelled to the kids, ìI know what theyíre doing up there; theyíre playing Marco Polo!î Right around breakfast, Linn realized we had flipped a breaker and went to investigate. After notifying the owners, three older gentlemen spent well over an hour trying to figure out the problem. As a last resort they moved us to another site, and we were relieved to discover the problem was not on our end. While getting everything set up at the new campsite, another little chipmunk made an appearance. It kept its distance, but it also did not run away. One of the kids noticed it was missing most of one front leg. Sympathetic, we wanted to make friends and committed a heinous crime according to national park mantra: we fed the little thing a couple of pretzels and some peanuts. At last we hopped in the car for a long drive to Crater Lake (the nearest entrance is still closed). We took a detour first at National Creek Falls, where we hiked a zig-zaggy trail a half a mile downhill to a wondrous cascade of water. I donít think Iíll ever tire of finding such reward at the end of each unknown path. Our next stop was Crater Lake, and it was indeed a beauty to behold. The lake seemed so vast and blue and still. Unfortunately, the rim road was not open, so all we could do was gaze at it for a few minutes and let the kids stomp around in the road-side snow. On our way back toward Diamond Lake, we stopped off at one more recommended sight, which was the Rogue River Gorge. The short fenced-off walkway along the gorge was yet another marvelous view. I was amazed at the force of the water rushing down this narrow section of the river. The sign said that enough water passes through each minute to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool! The sound was impressive, too, and it made me greatly anticipate Niagara Falls down the road. We had been told about a good restaurant, named Beckyís, which was right next door to this attraction. Linn planned to treat us all to dinner and ice cream. Since it was only 5:30, we were shocked to learn that the place was closed. The sign on the door said hours were 11-4 (except for 9-5 on Sat. and Sun.). Wouldnít it be nice if we could all have Beckyís hours? Sadly, we had to scrounge our fridge for leftovers tonight. We did treat ourselves to an evening of a Bugs Bunny video and popcorn. Itís back to school tomorrow and then maybe one more hike in the afternoon. The ranger gave us info on more falls to see, one of which was featured on the cover of a book in the Crater Lake Visitor Center. I think I have to see that! Did I mention how nice and quiet it is here? Linn said heís glad we learn from experience. Had we known better, we wouldíve stayed only three nights at crowded Newport Dunes and a week here. As my dad is fond of saying, ìHindsight is 20/20.î

Beauty in Big and Small things... LS
05-13-2007
For more than two months we have traveled through five states to see extraordinary sites. Most of which have been huge like the Grand Canyon, the Sequoia and Redwood trees. Today, after attending church at Pelican Bay Evangelical Free Church, which we thoroughly enjoyed, a lady suggested we go to a nearby beach to hunt for smooth, shiny, glass-like pebbles. After having the best Fish & Chips for lunch at the Chart Room we headed to Pebble Beach ñ not to be confused with the golf course ñ to discover dozens of people lying on their stomachs combing through millions of pebbles. I decided to ask a lady who looked like she had done this before to show us an example of what she is looking for. Opening her baggy of rocks she revealed several samples of assorted stones of various colors. Following the example of others already hunting for treasure, we found ourselves a section of beach and began hunting. It was not long before we each had a hand full of shiny pebbles when it struck me. We have been awed by the Grand Canyon, inspired by Yosemite and stood with our heads back gazing at the tallest trees in the world and here we are lying on a beach with our eyes 12 inches from the ground seeking B-B sized pebbles. They are pretty, shiny little rocks. Some clear, some not, and in all colors. For more than an hour we laid there hunting for treasure, enjoying our time together, showing each other our latest find. Our collection might measure a half cup, and will represent one day on the beach in Northern California where God showed me beauty in the small things.

In Search of Bigfoot - JKS
05-12-2007
Thursday's road trip took us 7 1/2 hours north to Hiouchi, CA. The RV park at which we now reside is unique, in that the slot for our vehicle is like a parallel parking space. What we first thought was odd has actually been really nice, because just outside our front door and patio space is an open grassy area with some nice trees. We practically have our own big yard, and the family enjoyed tossing a football around this morning before venturing into Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We hiked three different trails in the area and drove along an unpaved, winding road through the seemingly endless redwood forest. The first trail descended down to a rocky creek, where the bridge had been knocked out. I turned over a few small stones to find several tiny living creatures I had never seen before. I felt like I was disturbing this ecosystem of unknown lifeforms. Madison even spotted a 4-inch yellow-orange slug on our trail. Since the broken bridge prevented us from going any further, we did a U-turn and hiked back up the trail to our car. The second trail we chose was a loop around Stout Grove, and some of the redwood trunks here looked nearly as wide as the sequoias! Besides the trees, I was most impressed by the thick growth of ferns along the forest floor, as well as plush moss growing absolutely everywhere I looked. As we hiked along, we saw several redwoods lying on the ground, and Linn and I both agreed that we would not want to be around when one of those giants decided to come crashing down. Our final trail for the day was along Mill Creek, and this one was the most fun. The path took us down near the lovely blue-green stream, which we crossed over on a footbridge. We came upon a steep path that branched off from the trail, which led to a rope swing dangling above a pretty swimming hole. That sure would've been fun in the summer, but the high today was 53, and the water would most likely be awfully chilly. The trail meandered through lush underbrush; moss drooped from branches above; and great columns of the tallest trees on earth stood all around us. This is the closest thing to a jungle I have ever experienced. At one point I felt quite vulnerable at the thought of some wild animal lunging out from behind the bushes toward me or the kids. I began to wonder how much longer the trail was when it finally merged with another, and a sign said the road was 1/2 mile away. We sat down to rest and have a snack lunch before tramping up the last leg of our journey. Hudson was slowing down, so I hoisted him onto my back for the rest of the way. He was quite the trooper, because we did a lot of walking today. One of the best parts was how few people we encountered. In fact, there was not another living soul the entire length of our final trail -- except for maybe Bigfoot.

Re-write - JKS
05-08-2007
Two nights ago, I submitted a blog entry about the past few days, but it disappeared when the Internet connection was lost. So I will attempt to reconstruct my thoughts as best I can. Last Friday was my 41st birthday, and my only request was that I wouldnít have to cook supper. Linn did even better than that, because I didnít have to cook breakfast, either. He made huckleberry pancakes from a mix we bought at the campground. We all loved them so much that he bought another mix before we left Midpines. He also got me a cute shorts outfit from a shop in Mariposa. We had to travel to our next destination, so we did school that day as well. After we got settled in Petaluma and finished school, we went to downtown Petaluma for pizza. They had an Old Chicago pizza, which the kids thought was the best pizza they had ever had. We stuffed ourselves on this extremely thick-crusted pizza ñ their large pizza weighs four pounds without any toppings! Back in the RV park, Linn made a campfire for us, and we waited for our stomachs to settle so we could have some of the cake I had made for myself. I even put 41 candles on the cake and had the kids blow up balloons. I mean, you gotta do birthdays right for the kids! The next day was a school day as well, but we decided only to do the morning work, so we could go to Train Town. By the time I showered and Linn finished working on the computer, we realized we wouldnít have very much time before Train Town closed. So Linn suggested we go swimming. That was the last thing I wanted to do after getting clean and putting on makeup. Seeing my frustration, he said, ìWhy donít you go to the outlet mall?î While most women would jump at the opportunity to shop, I would rather eat dirt. I HATE shopping. Let me rephrase that. I hate shopping UNLESS I have a good friend to go with, who can help me make decisions on outfits and stuff. Anyway, I turned down the shopping for the pool option. Since I was all made up, Linn said I could just be a ìpool babe.î While I thoroughly like to lay out, I have to jump in the pool and cool off occasionally. But I stubbornly refused to get wet, since I had done all that work to look pretty. So I brought a good book along and sat on the lounge chair, sweltering in the hot sun. Now, this was the same day that the birds had awaken us at 5:00 a.m. Being a morning person, I had a lot of energy for the day. But then I ìhit the wallî at about 5:30 p.m., when I was trying to cook supper. I became irritated at little things, such as having to empty half the contents of the pantry to find the picante sauce. At this point I should have just gone to bed. My usual cheerful disposition was replaced with tired and cranky, and I let my sin nature take over. Needless to say, I was so glad when the day was done. Linn often puts music on to wake us up in the morning, and one of our favorites is Chris Riceís ìSmelliní Coffee.î This particular song would have been so appropriate for me Sunday morning, because they say, ìNow I canít dance hard enough, ëcause yesterday is gone, gone gone!î Sunday was a great day. We went to Adobe Christian Center, a non-denominational church in the area. Everyone was very friendly, and I donít think I expected Californians to be so warm and sincere. The worship music was all contemporary, and we knew most of the songs. The piano player was extremely talented, and the drummer, we soon learned, was the pastor! His sermon from Jonah was really good, and we were so blessed by worshipping there. One thing that really impressed me was that every week their church puts another local church and its pastor and spouse on the screen, and they pray for that churchís ministry in the community. Wow! I think all churches should do that. After the service, we stopped at a local high school car wash and then ate lunch at a Black Bear Diner. The food was great, but the service was slow. In a hurry to get to Train Town, the kids didnít get to have the free sundaes that came with their meals. Train Town was a blast for the kids. We rode the 15-minute train ride along tall pine trees, through tunnels, over bridges, and by waterfalls. The place was really pretty. In the middle of the park were other amusement rides. The kids rode swings, The Scrambler, a small roller coaster, and Ferris wheel, and a carousel. I was amazed at Hudson, who was fearless. The roller coaster was not your mamby-pamby kid coaster. It whipped you down and around some pretty wild curves. When I asked him at the top of the Ferris wheel if it was scary, he matter-of-factly answered, ìNo.î And when we got off the Scrambler, he enthusiastically said, ìMommy, I want to ride that again!î I just hope when heís tall enough to ride the really big thrill rides that I will still be able to ride with him! We had a great time, and Hudson said he wanted to go back to Train Town again. Yesterday we went to see San Francisco. Since our time here is short, we wonít be able to do everything. We wanted to take the kids to the Exploratorium, but we thought it would be better to see the area than spend half the day in a science center. We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, rode down Lombardís steep and curvy part, and visited Hyde Park Pier, which actually is a national park. Kaylinn, Madison, and Bronson really enjoyed exploring the old ships, and they all earned their Junior Ranger badges. There was time after we got back to take the girls shopping, so we ventured on over to the outlet mall to spend some money. Actually, we were shopping for specific things, including a birthday present for one of my nieces and a James choo choo for Hudson as a reward for his great efforts in potty training. I enjoyed my time with the girls, and we were almost successful at finding everything we set out to buy. The only thing we didnít get was a pair of shoes that Madison needed to go with an outfit she brought. We got back just in time to hop back in the car with the boys and meet our friends, Terry and Diane, whom we met back in Midpines, for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them more, and we hope to meet up with them once more in Yellowstone, because we learned that they will be there at the same time as us! This afternoon we plan to tour a few of the vineyards before leaving tomorrow for Crescent City. The bay area is absolutely beautiful, and the weather has been exceptional. And this RV park has been one of our favorites. The spacious sites are hidden under a huge grove of tall pine trees, and there is a petting farm with donkeys, chickens, and goats. The goats just had babies this week, so that has been a real thrill for the kids. (both the human kids and the animal ones, Iím sure). 

Be Quiet, PLEASE!!
05-06-2007
After two spectacular weeks in Sequoia and Yosemite we arrived at the Petaluma/N. San Francisco KOA on Friday. It is a beautiful campground, perhaps the nicest so far, not too far off highway 101, but deep in a pine forest with spacious sites. Our first night here I was looking forward to a good night of sleep after a longer than usual day of driving. Driving east to west in California is sort of like driving east to west in Austin. All the major highways run north south, so the only way to get from Yosemite to Petaluma is to do a lot of zig-zaging. We are able to have campfires at this campground, so we took advantage of the opportunity and sat up later than we should have before turning in. Sleeping well, I was awoken at 5:00 a.m. by what sounded like hundreds of chirping birds. I tried to go back to sleep, but the birds were relentless. Giving in, I turned on the coffee pot, got dressed, grabbed my bible. Julie and I found a porch swing to watch the sunrise over the wine country. It was a wonderful time in God's word. A couple of weeks ago I began reading Romans, and to be honest I was becoming frustrated. Praying each morning for understanding I felt like I was reading latin. Expecting more of the same, I turned to chapter 12. There may not be a more real life, daily application chapter for Christian life in the bible. I was encouraged by God's instruction, cherished the time with Julie and even grateful for the noisy birds. ------------Romans 12 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Godóthis is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will isóhis good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[d]says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."[e] 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Three days of glory - JKS
05-04-2007
We arrived in Midpines, CA, on Friday. Unfortunately, weíre in another ìblack hole,î not able to e-mail or make cell phone calls. Actually, we can receive mail, but not send. This is most frustrating, as contact with my close friends is one thing that has kept me sane far from home. Saturday, we had to finish out a school week, but after lunch we decided to take our afternoon lessons of Bible, history, and science in the car and head for Yosemite. I chose to sit in the back with the girls to read to them, but the winding road and picturesque landscape along the rushing Merced River made this quite difficult. It took us an hour to get there, so we managed to finish, and, miraculously, I did not puke! We drove in the entrance to the park and were almost immediately taken aback by the beauty, as a cascading waterfall entered our view. We found our way to the ìday useî parking lot and checked out the store and visitor center to pick up a trail map and get our bearing. Since it was late in the day and we were already near one of the ìmust seeí places in the park, we took the shuttle to the Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead and followed the crowd up the paved path. We had several great views of both upper and lower portions of the falls, but we were completely unprepared for the spray as we neared the lookout, nor how close we would be to the falls at the trailís end. The mist blew straight toward us and was terribly chilly, as the water tumbled over the precipice to the rocks far below. The water tossed and churned as it made its descent down the river, and signs warned onlookers not to climb the rocks due to the high probability of drowning in the freezing, tumultuous rapids. Just thinking about a death in that manner gave me the ìwillies.î We gazed at this marvel for as long as we could tolerate the cold mist and returned along the same path and back to our car. My first impression of Yosemite, other than the absolute majesty surrounding me, was that itís much too civilized. There are lots of restaurants, lodges, and shops. I didnít expect the large amount of cars and people, but Linn reminded me that it was the weekend. We agreed we Kaylinnís favorite of the churches weíve visited so far. After the service, we went back to the RV to change clothes and eat lunch, then we ventured back toward town to find a Civil War reenactment the pastor told us about. Since we had no idea what time it started, we only made it there in time to catch the final 15 minutes, and that was all our ears could handle of the loud booms of the cannons. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of the past, with mock soldiers dressed in Union blue and Confederate gray, hearing the drums and flutes, and watching the horse team pulling the caissons. We even saw a personage of Abraham Lincoln and civilian women and children on the outskirts of the battlefield, as well as tents where the soldiers were encamped. Today, we got up early, enjoyed a southern breakfast of grits and eggs, and drove back to Yosemite. Two of our trail choices were automatically ruled out by the road closures for the winter. So we headed back toward Yosemite Valley, stopping first at Bridalveil Falls for the quarter-mile hike to the bottom of the falls. Like the Yosemite Falls, this one, too, was impressive. We hopped back in the car, and Linn soon pulled over just to take a picture of the scenery. All of a sudden I heard Madison say, ìCoyotes!î We all scrambled to the windows, and just yards from Linn two coyotes were foraging for food. They separated and one walked very near Linn but kept its distance, strolling on by. The other one soon followed, and Linn got GREAT photos! We were all quite flabbergasted to see them up so close in their natural environment. We drove on down to the parking area and, this time, mounted our bikes, with Hudson in the seat behind Linn. We rode the rest of the morning, stopped for a snack, rode some more, grabbed our lunch out of the car, and rode off again in another direction. We got to see a portion of the Mirror Lake trail and let the kids wade in the shallow, icy water of the lower lake. They couldíve played there all afternoon. We rode on to other spots before calling it quits for the day. What we learned from this adventure was just how vast the valley floor is. If you were on foot, you could only see a small percentage of what we saw today, and we didnít even get out of Yosemite Valley! There are several other areas to see, including historic Wawona, which has a golf course, Glacier Point, Tioga Road, and Hetch Hetchy, where San Franciscoís dammed water source lies. There is even a stable in the park, where you can take 2-hour trail rides. There are several strenuous all-day or overnight hikes, which I wouldíve loved to do were the kids not with us. However, I think I should avoid Half Dome, as a lady recently fell to her death when her feet slipped on the wet rock and she lost her grip on the cable leading up the final ascent. I suppose danger just goes with the territory of these beautiful places. It would be fun to camp in the park itself, but our RV is way over the limit, and currently our camping gear is inaccessible due to a broken log in one of our storage compartments. All in all, it was a fabulous day, with perfect weather, and I think we mustíve rode nearly ten miles! When we got back home, our neighbors invited us to sit and chat with them a while. They have a pretty kitty named Sasha, who goes with them on all their trips. And being from northern California, they had lots of good tips for future sightseeing up the coast. Well, itís back to school for a couple more days, mainly to rest our legs. Thursday, we hope to go back to Yosemite and see what else is there waiting for us! I still want to see some bears. The park newspaper said this is the time for cubs. Yes, I know, I probably really donít want to see a mama bear with her cubs, but Iíd relish a view from a safe distance across a meadow.

My butt hurts... LS
05-01-2007
Now that I have written the "Deep Thoughts" blog with the We are home entry, as you can tell from the subject this one will be much more shallow. There are twelve miles of bike trails in Yosemite and based on how my butt feels I think we road them twice. We spent the day a the park yesterday and saw coyote come within 20 feet of me. It was magnificent. We road our bikes everywhere we had the energy to ride and saw so much more than we would have if we walked. The kids played in lower Mirror Lake, and while I bet the water was around 50 degrees it did not stop Hudson. He was the first one in and the wettest when we called them out. The look of total joy on his face made me look at Julie to tell her again, "I am so glad we are doing this." We walked to Bridalveil falls and stood in the mist until it was too cold. We ate lunch along the trail and tempted a squirrel with our Cheetos. I watched a Blue Jay catch a moth for lunch and it made me grateful I am not a bug. We rested at Mirror Lake and watched two pair of Mallard Ducks play in the water. Yosemite Valley is nearly perfectly reflected in the lake, hence it's name and I could have sat there for hours. Exhausted we road back to the car and returned home. That evening we sat with our neighbors and talked about our journey. They are from San Jose, near where we are going next and gave me a better driving route to avoid some of the San Francisco traffic. Nice people who asked over for dinner when we get to their area and suggested some places to see while we are there. Never being one to pass up a home cooked meal, we'll call them. As I said in an email, we have no cell phone service at this campground and our Internet access is spotty at best. We have to drive into town (7 miles) to make a phone call or send emails. It makes trying to get a little work done difficult, but we will be back in civilization(Napa)on Friday.

We are home... LS
05-01-2007
Nearly two months into our journey and we have seen some spectacular sights. After the Grand Canyon my expectations for the extraordinary had diminished. Yosemite has been more than extraordinary. The Grand Canyon and Yosemite are similar in their grandeur, but what makes them different is the Grand Canyon is like looking at the most magnificent painting you have ever seen, looking, but unable to touch. At Yosemite you get to step into the painting. Feel it with your feet, touch it with your hands, smell the forest and be made wet from the mist of the waterfalls. While both are equal in their ìwowî factor, Yosemite is an emersion experience that stays on your skin after you leave. With each turn you are greeted with new and increasingly beautiful scenery. When a good friend of ours, who is seemingly impressed by nothing, told us she has not been to a more beautiful spot on earth, I knew we were in for a treat. There is a place at Mirror Lake where I told Julie I wish I could sit here all day to hear what God would tell me. I told her I think He would tell me how much He loves me, as I imagined Him spreading His arms across the valley as if to say look at what I have made and says, ìI love you this much.î A gesture Iíve done countless times when playing with my kids ñ spreading my arms as far as I could and saying, ìI love you this much.î And, I realize He has already spread His arms on the cross to tell me how much He loves me. As I do from time to time, one night before bed, I asked the kids if they are ready to go home. To which Madison replied, ìWe are home.î Prior to our departure, during the planning, I had so much anxiety about whether this was a good idea, if it was good for my kids and if I was doing the right thing. Since our departure, there have been countless affirmations that my anxiety was unfounded, but none as meaningful as Madison saying, ìWe are home.î

Wildlife Sightings
04-26-2007
Okay, I learned my lesson. I'm going to blog when I can, so I don't have to talk about so much in one entry. We went back to Sequoia National Park today to see what else we could see. We packed our lunches and had a picnic at a place called Hospital Rock. It was warmer than two days ago, a very sunny day. The kids climbed on a few of the granite rocks at this picnic site, and Linn commented that we don't need to build them a playground; we just need to put some huge rocks in our next yard. We walked over to the spot they named it Hospital Rock for. The Potwashi Indians who had been in the area years ago had used it once to help a white man who had been shot in the leg. You could see pictures on the side of the giant rock drawn in red paint of some sort. There were also mortars carved out of one of the rocks, where they ground the acorns for their food. Right near this rock was a footpath that took us down by the Kaweah River, which was flowing fast due to the spring thaw of the mountain snow. The water was freezing cold. Knowing the great potential for drownings at this spot, I kept a tight rein on the boys. They were climbing on all the rocks, but I wouldn't let them near the water. After we walked back up the same way we had come down, we looked at Hospital Rock one more time. Madison said she saw a snake and we heard Kaylinn squeal. Sure enough, there was a snake coiled up under the rock. Linn said it was poisonous, because it had the triangular-shaped head. The markings were like diamonds on its back. As we watched it slither under the rock, head first, the tail finally showed up, and it was a rattler! It was very obvious that when it saw us, it didn't want to have anything to do with us. It never gave us a warning, but just quietly and slowly got out of sight. I'm just Madison spotted it where she did, and that no one was hurt. Right after that, we walked up a path toward a campground to find a trailhead called Paradise Creek. However, we had no earthly idea if we were on the right road, and it looked farther than it should have been to find a trailhead. Linn walked back to the car and picked us up. We drove to the campground where the traihead was, but it was for overnight camping use only. If we parked the car where the park newspaper told us to, we would have had to walk a mile uphill before finding the trailhead, and the trail was three miles round trip, which would have totaled five miles by the time we walked back to the car!!! So, clearly, we didn't take that option. We stayed in the car and drove back to Giants Museum, where Madison got her Junior Ranger Badge. Kaylinn and Bronson were still working on their assignments. On the advice of a ranger, we headed down Moro Rock Rd., where we drove through a tree,saw some mule deer, and found a trailhead called Crescent Meadow. This was a pretty walk around a meadow, and we talked the kids into walking quiety in the hopes that we would spot a bear -- the ranger said we might. At the end of this one-mile trail, we saw Tharp's Cabin, a fallen sequoia that a man named Tharp had turned into a cabin in 1858, long before the area was turned into a national park!! This was really neat. It was like looking back in time. He aparently lived there for several summers and used the meadow for his livestock. We had to turn around at this point and hike the mile back to the parking lot. I could tell that Hudson was going slow, so I picked him up and carried him the rest of the way back. There was an interesting sound, kind of like secadas, and Linn said it was frogs in the marshy meadow. Once he said it, I realized he was right! They were really loud, so there must have been a bunch of them. Back at the car, we headed down to a visitor center, but they were all closed. Kaylinn and Bronson had finished all their work in their Jr. Ranger booklets, but they didn't get the prize of a patch this time. :( While we were in the park, we also saw some ground squirrels and lizards. So as for seeing wildlife, it was a very successful day. I hope we see a bear somewhere along our journey. We should have lots of opportunities.

Creation Talks - 4/24 - JKS
04-25-2007
Itís only been 7 weeks, and weíve seen so many beautiful places west of Austin, Texas. The campgrounds have all been unique, yet theyíre starting to blur together in my mind. Iím so glad weíre writing this down, so we will be able to look back on it for years to come. I start to panic when I havenít blogged for a few days, afraid Iíll forget. Iím warning you already; this is going to be a long one. I must mention the Monterey Bay Aquarium, because the variety of sea creatures we saw there really impressed me. Each living thing is so unlike another, so amazingly distinct, itís as if God has laid before us silent testimony that shouts His creativity and tells us, ìGod IS!î Iím so thankful for aquariums, because how many of us could ever deep-sea-dive to learn about all these wondrous things? From the seahorses to the octopuses, the giant sunfish to the tiniest jellyfish, from the shimmering sardine school to the playful sea otters, every creature was made perfect for its environment. I could have spent hours there. I am reminded of words from Psalm 104:24-25, which say, ìHow many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number ñ living things both large and small.î We left the California coast and headed inland to see the sequoias. Is there no end to Californiaís beauty? We are now situated in Lemon Cove, a small community amidst an abundance of orange and lemon groves. Scattered among them are a few strawberry farms, and the samples Iíve bought from the grocery stores here have tasted like they had just been picked! I canít keep a pint long before my four kids gobble them up. I even made chocolate-covered strawberries, much to everyoneís delight. After a school/travel day and getting settled yesterday into our new campground ñ not the nicest one, I might add ñ we drove to Sequoia National Park this morning to see the giant trees. We first had to go through a small town called Three Rivers, which was built up along a beautiful, rocky creek. There were dozens of little antique shops and local restaurants that we couldíve just stopped and spent the whole day there. But we had come for the sequoias, and they beckoned us onward. As we meandered along the road, we gazed at the hills and listened to Focus on the Familyís Radio Theatre CD of the first volume in C.S. Lewisí The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magicianís Nephew. The kids were not the only ones spellbound by Lewisí gift of storytelling. By the end they were begging for more. Finally at the entrance to the national park, Daddy turned off the CD so we would be able to take in the view. The Generalís Highway, named after the largest tree in the world, wound up quickly, and once again we were surrounded by spectacular scenery. But I couldnít see ìthe big onesî yet. As we neared ìGiants Forest,î Linn spotted some, and the whole family began to ìoohî and ìahh.î When we got out of the car at our first stop, we saw the Sentinal among many others in the grove. All any of us could say was, ìWow!î I can hardly find the words to describe them. We took the trail aptly named Big Trees, and since it had snowed very recently, the trail was packed snow and slush. Althogh we ere not quite prepared for the trek in the shoe department, it was well worth soggy feet. Our next stop was the one probably everyone goes to see: General Sherman. While not the tallest tree, it is the largest, because it takes up the most space. And standing there beneath it, I felt so small. The words that came to my mind when trying to describe it were towering, stately, massive, like it commands attention. No wonder they named it General Sherman. The Giants Museum had a great exhibit, which put the sequoias in perspective to other familiar objects. They literally dwarf the space shuttle and are even taller than the Statue of Liberty. Even now, thinking about how majestic they stand, I am truly in awe. And like the sea creatures, they speak to us, saying, ìGod is REALLY BIG!î Last night the checker at the grocery store told me that the sequoia forest is really beautiful, but Yosemite surpasses it by far. Since that is our next stop, I can only imagine whatís ahead. Sequoia was not on our original schedule, but Iím so glad we came here. I almost forgot to mention what a blessing Sunday was. We found another Calvary Chapel and went to their earliest of three services (8:30). Madison and Bronson went to their age-appropriate option, where their teacher excitedly welcomed them and began telling us what they were going to learn that morning. Hudson walked into his preschool room without a fuss ñ Wow! I could hear the service begin upstairs as the people sang ìEverlasting God,î so I hurried upstairs to find Linn and Kaylinn and join in. The praise team led the people in worship, and as I looked around, I noticed sincere worshipers. We sang several BBC favorites, including ìIt is Well With my Soul.î The pastor preached from John 8, and he was very passionate about the treasure of Godís Word and just wanted to keep on going. He mentioned that he had not become a Christian until he was 26 years old. The whole morning was a gift from God to me, because I have missed Bannockburn every week since we left, and this place felt a lot like home. Another awesome gift from our kind and loving Father that day was the weather. We had wanted to drive back to Big Sur after church, but the weather forecast was for rain. When we got home to change clothes, the sun was brightly shining. We were able to enjoy a relaxing lunch in a riverfront restaurant and then hike along a creek-side trail through the magical wood of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. I say magical, because this place brought the imagination to life, with all the house-like hollows in the tall Coast Redwoods and the beams of sunlight piercing the canopy to display the giant clover-carpeted floor. Kaylinn looked down and spotted her first four-leaf clover among them. Our hikeís end brought us to the sound and sight of a pretty waterfall pouring into a small pond that overflowed into the creek. The kids would have played here all day, but we ventured 11 miles south in the Suburban to one last hike. This one was at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and the trail was much shorter and out in the open. We went through a large pipe tunnel under the Pacific Coast Highway to the Overlook, where we could see a 60-foot waterfall spilling onto the beach cove enveloped in rocks. Linn got some great photos of this beautiful spot, which reminded me of a miniature version of Hawaiian falls Iíve only seen on T.V. Sunday was a glorious day indeed. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

A Detour... LS
04-24-2007
After some debate we decided to include Sequoia National Park in our journey. We arrived yesterday at a dumpy little campground about 15 miles from the park entrance. Combined, Sequoia and Kings Canyon contain more than 865k acres, with low, dry foothills through mid-elevation sequoia groves to spectacular mountain scenery. The roads rise over a mile in elevation and can be traveled for nearly a day without leaving the park. And what roads they are, steep and winding with a rock face on one side and drop offs on the other, until you enter the giant forest. Then all you can see are trees, great big trees, the largest trees on earth, and thousands of years old. It is something to think some of these trees were here when Jesus walked the shores of Galilee. When we left this morning it was a comfortable 65 degrees outside. By the time we reached the Giant Forest the temperature had dropped 18 degrees and there was still considerable snow on the ground from a storm three days ago. Kaylinn, Madison and Bronson all heard me say wear shorts and a t-shirt, but bring long pants and a coat. Julie didnít hear me, which means Hudson didnít bring long pants either. They were a little cold, but never uncomfortable. All Hudson was interested in doing was tromping through the snow, which he did in spite of Julieís protests. By the time we got back to the car his shoes were soaked through to his socks. It struck me tonight as I was uploading todayís photos that the last picture I uploaded was of a beach and the first picture today was of snow covered mountains. California is certainly a state of contrast. Last year a branch fell off the General Sherman tree, largest living tree in the world, which is still on the ground below. Just the branch alone is larger than most trees in the United States. Our detour to Sequoia has been worth it. Yosemite is next and I canít wait to see what is there.

Pebble Beach... LS
04-21-2007
For all of those who are not golfers I apologize and suggest you skip this blog entry, as it is all about golf. Today, as a belated birthday gift from my precious wife, I played Pebble Beach Golf Course. What a thrill. While a caddy was not available I did get my own cheering section. I was paired with three men (Monty, Toshi and Ink) from Japan working in Michigan in the auto parts industry. Their English was broken, but they knew how to play the game. With each good shot they enthusiastically reacted with a chorus of heavily Asian accented, ìGooíshoí!î It made playing with them fun. When the shot was not so good their silence was deafening. It was the first time for all of us to play Pebble and we were all relishing the moment. With a par, par start, my excitement at the prospect of having the round of my life got the best of me and reality hit me with a bogey, double, double, bogey, par, double, double for a 10 over par 46 on the front nine. On the par 3, 7th, which depending on the wind can require anything from a sand wedge to a driver, I stuck a pitching wedge four feet from the pin. Based on the reaction of my three-man-Asian gallery, you would have thought I was Tiger Woods. For a moment I felt like it, until I missed the birdie putt and made par. I canít come close describing the beauty of the vistas, but there may not be a more beautiful place on earth with a golf course on it. Making the turn, I stopped in the half way house to get some coffee. The weather was turning cold and starting to drizzle. The attendant asked how my game was going, I said, ìIím having fun.î He said, ìYou have just finished the easy holes, so you are about to have a lot of fun.î ìGreat!î I replied. Somehow, it seems every hole on the back nine is up hill. The greens are more undulated and the short par fours, designed to temp you, are just evil. I had four pars on the back, but still shot 10 over for a total score of 92. Not great, not even my best, but I was not disappointed. I told Julie I would do it again in a heartbeat and a third time if someone else paid the green fee. I hope I get the chance to play it again one day. Hole 14 is a long, dogleg right, par five. I bet the elevation change from the front of the green to the back is 7 or 8 feet. The pin was in the back and I was on the front in regulation. One of my new Japanese friends was away and putted, but did not make it up the hill. His ball rolled back off the front of the green. I gave mine a whack, aiming six feet left of the target and got lucky. The ball rolled to a stop just 30 inches from the hole, one of seven pars on the day. The men from Japan were excessively courteous; always concerned with who had honors and who was away. When they made a bad shot, a string of what I assume were Japanese expletives came forth. They obviously knew each other well and would harass each other when a short putt was missed or a ball hit out of bounds. It was entertaining. Determined to end the day on a high note, I hit a great approach shot to the 18th green, but the giant tree that protects the green caught my ball and threw it in the trap. I mumbled something in Japanese and made bogey. It was a great day, one Iíll remember for the rest of my life.

Saying yes... LS
04-19-2007
I debated whether to make this entry, but was reminded by my own words on the HOME page "...the journal entries (blog) will be personal, private and a transparent expression of what we are experiencing." So I make this entry to be a record of this event for my sake. After considering the forecast for rain this evening and tomorrow we determined to do school when the weather is less conducive for sightseeing. So, this morning, after breakfast we set out for the Monterrey Aquarium, considered one of the best in the world. Always diligent, Julie was reading a book to the kids while driving to the aquarium. While stopped at a major intersection I watched a man and what looked like a young teenage girl cross the intersection. She was wearing no shoes and pajama bottoms that were so big she had to hold them up to keep from walking on them. It was clear to me that they needed help. As they crossed and the light turned green the whole "...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me." thing came to mind. Jesus' words would not leave me. After a few blocks, being unsure of what I would do, I turned around. Half hoping I would not find them, I did. Driving by slowly the internal battle inside me convinced me that if they need help they can find it. I drove on, and again reminded of one of our purposes for this trip was to be able to say "Yes" to God. In my heart I was being told to do something. I turned around, again. I asked myself how do I ask a man if I can help his daughter without offending his pride. This time, being sure I would not find them, it was as if we drove right to her, in a parking lot, by herself. Asking God for the words to say, I pulled up near her, waved her over, she smiled and walked over. She asked, "Do you have a question?" There in an instant my prayer was answered. I felt relief that all I had to do now was respond to her question, and I said, "Is there anything I can do to help?" She said yes, and asked for a ride up the road to Goodwill. Kaylinn was already making room for her and she got in. She was not a teenager, but a young woman in her twenties, and began rambling on about her state and how she got that way. I asked for directions and the small talk continued as she told me which way to turn. Dropping her off at Goodwill I gave her enough to buy some shoes, clothes and maybe some food and drove away. As we continued our drive to the Aquarium I was blessed by the opportunity, and so grateful that God provided the grace to let me say yes. We don't know her name, where she is going or if what we did will help, but it helped me.

Rolling hills and crashing waves - JKS
04-18-2007
Boy, it's been a while since I've blogged, mostly because we've had some days with little activity other than normal life. The campground at Flying Flags in Buellton, CA, was really pretty, with lots of tall trees and greenbelt behind us where the kids could run and play. When we arrived, the lady that checked us in gave us a half dozen freshly baked cookies to welcome us! The area surrounding Buellton was rolling hills with yellow wildflowers in full bloom and sweeping valleys. We enjoyed our time there, shopping in Solvang, driving to the Santa Ynez Peak, and swimming in the pool on the only non-windy, warm day. Yesterday we left this quaint and picturesque part of the California coast and headed north toward Monterey. We stopped at the Hearst Castle and decided to take a tour. Bronson was impressed that we were in a "real castle," and we all enjoyed seeing how ornately it was decorated, including antique Italian and Spanish ceilings, a painting commissioned by Louis XIII, and statues from before the time of Christ. Gone are the days when you can buy 400,000 acres at 70 cents an acre! We ended our tour with a peek at the Roman pool, which was the single-most expensive project of the castle at $400,000. After all being amazed, we headed up the highway -- the most beautiful stretch of road we've been on yet, with the Pacific Ocean on our left and the mountains on our right. The winding road was probably not intended for 40-foot RV's towing Suburbans, but Linn's skillful and attentive driving (and angels surrounding our vehicles) got us to our next campground in Monterey safely. Having passed through Big Sur, we most definitely intend to drive back for a day. It was the first thing we had passed by that I felt compelled to stop and see. Today we drove around Monterey, had delicious New England clam chowder on Fisherman's Wharf, enjoyed watching the seals in the harbor, and meandered through Pebble Beach's 17-Mile Drive. It was so windy today, which made for great photo shots of the ocean waves crashing against the rocks. But to be honest, we are all tired of the wind. Linn almost blew over cooking our burgers on the grill tonight! Tomorrow we will go back to school, much to the kids' dismay. But as we near the end of the school year, I get pretty excited at the prospect of the summer break, myself, so I will continue to be the taskmaster for the next 7 1/2 weeks. Since Linn is drifting off to sleep as I type this, and since Beth Moore gave me a homework assignment to get up before the sun does tomorrow morning, I need to end this journal entry. While I type, I can't help but think of all of you on the other end, family, friends, and even strangers, many of whom are praying for us. God bless you with the knowledge of His everlasting love and all-sufficient grace for every moment of every day.

California Screamin'
04-14-2007
We stayed an extra day in Newport Beach due to a reservation mix-up, so we tried to decide what we would do for our final day there. It was a toss-up between LegoLand and Disney's California Adventure Park. Reasoning that LegoLand was more for the younger children, we opted for Disney, because there's something for everyone there. After we began riding rides, however, I thought maybe we should've gone to LegoLand, because only one of our four children will ride the big thrill rides. Being a rollercoaster enthusiast, I had to ask myself, "Are these MY kids?" Actually, I honestly believe Hudson would ride anything if they'd let him. We enjoyed a beautiful sunny CA day -- our first warm one of the week -- riding fun rides and people watching, a very entertaining pastime in California. The family agreed that "Soariní over Californiaî was our favorite ride, where for a few minutes you have the sensation of actually flying over many of CAís beautiful landscapes. You can feel the breeze and even smell the scent of the ocean spray and the orange groves. Itís amazing. Floridaís Disney World has this very same attraction and itís a must ride ñ but get a ìfast pass,î because the lines are long. My personal favorite of the day was the ìCalifornia Screaminíî rollercoaster that shoots you up a hill at rocket speed and zooms down hills, through a loop, and around several turns, all with rock music blaring in your ears! Hudson liked everything he was tall enough to ride, but he was one inch too short for ìMulhallenís Madness,î a 4-seater, car-type rollercoaster that takes really sharp turns and zips down small hills. Maybe heíll gain that extra inch by the time we get to Disney World in December! He loved the multicolored choo-choo in the spectacular light-up parade and the fireworks from Magic Kingdom that we saw on the walk back to our parking lot. After yesterdayís excitement it was hard to get back to work and get some school done while we traveled to our new destination, but we managed. Daddy made us stop several times to catch the gorgeous views of the ocean waves on our left and wildflower-laden mountains and valleys on our right as we headed up Highway 101 along CAís coast. It is truly a scenic delight. Iím so glad the girls especially get to see the beauty all across this land to contrast some of the subject matter we have touched upon in our in-depth American History course this year. Going through Joy Hakimís 11-volume series, A History of US, we have learned not only about the founding of our nation and many of Americaís great people and accomplishments, but also the darker side of racism, wars, and poverty. Itís tough to have to introduce things like World War II concentration camps in Germany and the development and use of the first atomic bomb to my children, but Iím so grateful for the opportunity God has given me to discuss these things in our home from a Christian perspective. I pray often for the wisdom to do that. Sorry for the digression, but itís all part of the journey for me. Bronson asked me today what the world ìscheduleî meant, and I had to tell him ìItís what we donít have for the time being!î  But I think Iím adjusting fairly well to this nomadís life. And the change of scenery is one of the best parts. Itís fun to wonder as we pull into our new campground, ìWhatís in store for us here?î Weíve seen so much already, and weíve only completed five weeks of our year! Iím so glad Linnís capturing it all on camera, so I wonít ever forget. Madison thinks weíll all be bored when we finally get home. But in the words of Steven Curtis Chapman, life with Christ is ìthe great adventure!î

Pea Soup... LS
04-12-2007
Our campground - www.flyingflags.com is in Buellton California, north of Santa Barbara. Buellton is apparently famous for its Split Pea Soup. All remembrances to the Exorcist aside, I tried it and it is good, so I bought two quarts and had one for lunch today. Hope I don't get sick. After the kids finished school, we went for a drive to San Ynez peak. See the photo in the gallery. The road to the peak was closed and to the dismay of my excessively anxious children, that did not stop me. Around the barrier I went. Proceeding up the mountain on a road that ran out of pavement and was barely wide enough for one car, shifting to four wheel drive I accelerated. I could hardly drive for the distraction of the view. Julie repeated "Eyes on the road." and was leaning toward the middle of the Suburban, I guess because the road dropped away suddenly on her side making her a bit uncomfortable. It was a long bumpy ride, but worth it for the vista of the valley and Pacific Ocean below. We learned that the road down the other side was paved, so elected that option and meandered through a lemon orchard. Not the Grand Canyon or Disneyland, but a gold nugget of an experience nonetheless. This morning (Friday) we went to breakfast at Ellenís Danish Pancake House. It was delicious. Kerbey Lane doesnít have anything on Ellen. Afterward we drove to a quaint little Dutch themed town full of little shops, Inns and restaurants. One of the shops was a Thomas Kinkade gallery. I think viewing his art inspired Kaylinn, because when we got home she began work on one of her best efforts. Iíll upload it later. I donít know if it was the quality of his work or the price tag next to each piece that inspired her. Friday afternoon I played golf at Sandpiper Golf Course, which is in my top one or two courses Iíve ever played in terms of scenic beauty. With the mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other the vista are distracting and is what I am blaming my above par round on. Saturday was a down day. No school, no sightseeing, a little house work and just relaxing. Sunday we attended Grace Baptist Church in Santa Barbara. It was a small congregation with a traditional service. The pastor is enthusiastic and preaches the word of God with conviction. I was blessed. A man after the services asked if our children are home schooled. We told him yes, to which he replied, ìI knew it. The brightness in their eyes and demeanor gives it away. I believe homeschooled children are our future leaders.î To which we agreed. We came home for a quick lunch and drove to Gaviota State Beach. There is a trail that takes you to a peak near the ocean, but discovering it was a six mile round trip hike we opted against that, because somebody was going to end up carrying Hudson, namely me. So we came home.

Answered Prayer
04-08-2007
We left Las Vegas behind, but we will take with us the memory of a family God planted right "next door" during our short stay there. Shortly after we arrived, they pulled into the space beside us. Our kids were playing outside as they set up their site, and we made introductions. They have four kids as well, but ages 7 and under! When they asked us if we were there for Spring Break, I told them about our plans to travel for a year, which led to a condensed version of how it all came about. Through the course of our conversation, I was so happy to learn they are believers, too. And then it dawned on me that this family came as an answer to a recent prayer I had prayed, that the Lord would send Christians along our path to encourage us. While we are miles away from our church family, I had been feeling lonely for fellowship. God knows our needs even before we speak them, and He was gracious to answer so quickly. We even got an invitation to worship at their church as we head north in California, and we hope to try and make it there. Currently we are in Newport Beach, and we drove to the San Diego Zoo today (4/6). I totally expected it to be warm and sunny here, but it has actually been a little chilly, in the 60's. My favorite animals to see at the zoo were the koalas, the black panther, and the panda bear, as well as the amazing variety of beautiful and brightly colored birds. I only got a glimpses of what it must have been like for Adam when God brought before him all the creatures to name. But this day the Strock family marveled at God's creativity among the animal world, and it was simply marvelous.

Ditto
04-05-2007
I don't think I can add much to what everyone else has said about visiting the Grand Canyon. It is truly spectacular and almost beyond description. I desperately wanted to hike down to the floor of the canyon just to get the perspective of how big it actually is. I would love to be one of merely 20,000 souls who brave a river raft down the Colorado River out of the 4 million who visit the canyon annually. That will have to wait for another trip. And learning that many have accidentally fallen over the rim made me very anxious while we were there. I kept a tight hold on Hudson, but apparently it was Bronson who should've been harnessed to me. The helicopter ride was awesome, especially since I was in the co-pilot's seat. What perturbed me, however, was the fact that naturalists have propagated all the literature with the idea that the rock layers in the canyon are as ancient as 1.2 billion years old. I don't know what equations they used, since no one was around that long ago, and so many people have blindly accepted it as fact, just because enough teachers have taught it in our schools. It reminds me of a Bible passage: I Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" The grandeur of the Grand Canyon surely points to the Creator. Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." That must mean that the 4 million yearly visitors to the Grand Canyon have seen God's eternal qualities, and so many haven't even recognized Him! I think the greatest thrill of the whole experience was witnessing the expressions on our children's faces at their first gaze upon this marvel. It was priceless. Of course, Hudson is too young to appreciate the view. However, when I helped him look down over one of the railings, he said, "That's a long fall!" We are now at Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort, and we're completing our second morning of school while Daddy is enjoying Bear's Best, Jack Nicklaus' "top 18" holes of golf. It is warm and sunny, and we hope to swim after lunch when Linn gets home. I thought the Phoenix RV site was big; this one has over 700 spaces! We have never been to Vegas and have never really desired to visit, but since we are here, I'm sure we will be entertained by all the glitz. Maybe we'll even see some Beetles or Elvis look-alikes.

Las Vegas... LS
04-05-2007
Our three nights in Las Vegas will be little more than a footnote - no sight seeing, no pictures. Our campground was a resort style park with a nice pool and a natural grass miniature golf course. I played a round at Bear's Best, which is supposed to be 18 of Jack Nicklaus' best 18 golf holes. http://www.bearsbest.com/vegas/default.asp It was a fun course, but not something I would want to play routinely. We had planned to go see the Hoover dam, but I decided we needed to rest. It felt like we had been going none stop and I was tired and irratable. The kids did school one day and we spent much of the time by the pool just relaxing. I told Julie it was the first night since leaving Austin that my back did not hurt when I went to bed, so the rest was well needed. The night we drove down Las Vegas Blvd to see all the casinos and resorts I came away feeling like I had just seen the greatest tribute to mans' indulgences ever built. An entire city full of visual beauty built entirely around all the things Proverbs warns us against. Even for all the lights, glimmer and sparkle it felt very dark. We left this morning and are now in Newport Beach, CA - a place much more suited for me. We will be here for the next five nights to watch the Masters, celebrate Easter, see the San Diego Zoo, LEGO Land and the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Grand Canyon... LS
03-31-2007
As a surprise and treat for the kids, especially Hudson, we rode the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams to the Grand Canyon. When Hudson sees a train he can hardly contain himself, so being this close and actually being able to get on it; the poor boy was about to come out of his skin. The morning began with a cowboy shootout that included lots of audience participation and was very entertaining. Julie and the girls got to use a bullwhip to knock a straw off a stump. They all hit it on the first try. Next time Julie tells me to do the laundry I guess I better listen. For me, the anticipation of seeing the Grand Canyon has been building for weeks. It is grandest of all the national parks and perhaps the most magnificent example of Godís handiwork on this earth ñ in a geological sense, of course. As we boarded the train, found our seats, I was nearly overcome by what my children were about to witness. Take all the adjectives we have used to describe the sites we have seen so far: Carlsbad Caverns, Red Rock State Park/Sedona and multiply everything by 10. Majestic, impressive, imposing, splendid, striking, awesome are all inadequate to describe the Grand Canyon. With the video camera rolling I walked several paces behind Julie and the kids hoping to capture what they were experiencing. As I caught up to them and turned the camera on their faces ñ silence and expressions of awe on their faces sums up their reaction. Later, during lunch, having been so impressed by Carlsbad, I asked them if the Grand Canyon is a 10 on the 1 ñ 10 scale, where does Carlsbad Caverns lie? Kaylinn insightfully said 5. Standing on the edge, Julie and I both expressed a sense of frustration with being unable to experience the Grand Canyon more completely. It is so big and time so limited we are unable to view it from multiple vantage points, from the rim and from inside looking up. It is a place one could spend years exploring and still not experience everything this canyon has. I consider the vastness of our God and I realize with the few years I have remaining, and with every moment devoted to learning more about Him, my understanding of who God is would certainly be greater than it is today, but still a speck in comparison to what He has to offer. Knowing I cannot know everything, the journey of learning, I am confident, will bring joys unspeakable, peace beyond understanding, mercies undeserving, grace without ending and love everlasting. May the journey never end.

The Great Adventure
03-28-2007
Sedona and Red Rock State Park were truly spectacular. I definitely intend to return here on a get-away with just Linn. There are some nice golf resorts here, and I just love the way the architecture of the city blends in with the surroundings so as not to detract from the view. Even the McDonald's is made of an earth-tone stucco, the only mark recognizable being the yellow "M" on the exterior. I followed Linn in the Suburban today, mainly because we had to climb 4000 feet to our new campground. I played and sang along with praise music all the way, and it was so appropriate with the sights all around me. I kept looking for the elk that the road signs said were around, but I never spotted any. And I could hardly believe the drop in temperature as we increased our altitude. In no time at all it was 35 degrees, and then I saw snow flurries. Since it was a short drive, we were at our new place in what seemed like no time. I am always intrigued by some of the other campers' set-ups. Here at Circle Pines there is a pop-up with a very small tent out front, with lots of "stuff" sitting outside the pop-up. The camper also has a big United States flag and red, white, and blue string lights. This person is roughing it more than all the Class C's, 5th wheels, trailers, and massive RV's surrounding him. I haven't actually seen who dwells there, but I'm sure he or she is quite interesting, to say the least. Maybe I can get Linn to take some pictures of the most unique travelers we see. After a sort of frustrating day of school -- the kids are so easily distracted on traveling days -- Linn made a fire, and he cooked steaks on the grill. Since we couldn't hook up to the cable here and we couldn't see who got voted off American Idol, the kids watched Pirates of the Caribbean for the umpteenth time. It's amazing how I never get tired of that movie. It's one of my favorites. And just for the record, I have correctly picked the last two American Idols, and I vote for Melinda Doolittle all the way, baby!!! She's incredible. Anyway, after kissing the kids and praying with the girls (the boys had already passed out), Linn asked me if I was ready to go home. I don't know why he keeps asking me that. In just a little over three weeks, this way of life has become fairly natural. It's not that I want to live this way always, but it has really been a wonderful change. The biggest thing is that we don't have "activities" to rush off to, which greatly slows the pace of life, and all of a sudden we have so much more together time. I have always been one to keep activities to a minimum, because with four kids you have to. And Linn and I have purposely not cared to have the kids do many sports at young ages, while we did expose them to some. And more time with our kids is just one among many reasons we home school. But the neatest thing is that I have already ridden bikes with my kids more than our whole time back in Dripping Springs. And one of my favorite things of all is bundling up in the morning, grabbing a cup of coffee, and sitting outside in a lawn chair with my husband by my side, reading our Bibles. It doesn't get any better than this. I don't care what we see on this trip; if we don't make time for God and allow Him to speak to us, to fill us, to renew our minds, then there is no adventure. I'm currently doing Beth Moore's Bible study called Living Beyond Yourself, a study on the fruit of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. This week's focus is on peace. The reason I do not want to go home yet is that I know we are right where God wants us. He brought us here, He has things to teach us, and He goes with us all the way. Even when my whole world has been turned upside down, that's peace. And the other reason I'm not ready to come home yet is that we're just having way too much fun together!

It's snowing... LS
03-28-2007
I'm really liking these short drives. An hour from Phoenix to Camp Verde then an hour and a half to Williams makes the life of the driver easy. We will be in Williams for the next five nights. Founded in the late 1800's by ranchers, railroaders, and lumbermen, Williams' name comes from the famous trapper and "mountain man", Bill Williams. This Friday we are taking the train from Williams to the Grand Canyon. The kids don't know it and I can't wait to see their faces. Especially Hudson, who loves choo choos. The video camera will be running. Traveling north this morning the kids noticed white stuff on the ground, just south of Flagstaff. A few minutes later, I saw snow falling. It has been snowing off and on all day. Not enough to accumulate, but it is kinda fun to see snow in late March. The Red Rock State Park and the town of Sedona are take-your-breath-away beautiful. Sedona is the only town we have gone through so far I would consider moving to. Waking up in that environment every morning would keep me in a constant state of awe. It is a spectacular sample of God's creation. The concentration of spiritualist and mystics are evidence of man's need for a purpose in life. Sadly, so many see the creation, but are blind to the Creator. May our hearts always be open to the Creator as He reveals Himself through His creation.

Breakthrough... JS
03-27-2007
I never knew how much finding my way through unfamiliar grocery isles would be part of the adventure. And if I forget something, I have to send Linn back in the store, or I may be miles away from a store when we hook up. We have made our new home for the next few days at Distant Drums RV Resort in Camp Verde, AZ. The drums may be distant, but the small airplanes overhead are not! The kids have enjoyed seeing all manner of aircraft zooming quite low, directly above our RV. We chose to worship at Calvary Chapel this morning and were welcomed by a few friendly people, eager to make us feel at home. We were familiar with a couple of songs, but others were ìhomegrown,î so we listened and learned. One of my favorite radio pastors in Austin is Alan Rigg, so I was familiar with Calvary Chapelís commitment to teach the Bible verse by verse. Although this pastorís style of doing that was different, he taught zealously through a passage in Acts, challenging us to seek what he called ìspiritual breakthroughs,î where Godís Spirit breaks through to us in any area of our life to mature our faith and prepare us to meet Christ. As I left that place, I prayed for just that in the lives of the believers there, that they might reach their community with the love of our Lord. After a delicious lunch at Verde CafÈ, we took advantage of beautiful, sunny weather to sightsee at Montezumaís Castle, the oldest, best-preserved cliff-dwellings in America. It was like looking back in time (1100ís) at something so foreign to our way of life. Yet real Sinagua (which means ìwithout waterî) boys and girls climbed ladders to reach their homes in the heights; women prepared meals; men went off to hunt. No modern conveniences, no technology, no noise but nature ñ a world long gone. However, we did learn that ancestors of the Sinagua still live in the area today, many of whom work to keep their past alive. One day, people will look back on our way of life and wonder about us. What mark of significance will we leave behind? While I hope to leave a legacy of faith for my children and, hopefully, others to follow, I was also reminded in the sermon this morning that this world is not my home, and Jesus, my Master, could return today. I want to learn how to truly serve Him, live for HIS pleasure when so often my days are full of my agenda and concerns, and to love others the way He loves me. Break through me, Lord.

My bold Daughter... LS
03-25-2007
Sunday after attending service the Calvary Chapel of Camp Verde we went to lunch. Desiring to experience some of the local flair, we decided on the Verde Cafe. Their specialty was breakfast, which they serve all day, and Julie said was quite good. As we finished, I noticed Kaylinn looking pale. She walked over to Julie and whispered to her. I asked what was going on and learned she was feeling led to ask a man at the next table if he knows Jesus. I told her to have a seat next to me. I asked her what she is going to say if he says he does not know Jesus. She was unsure. I looked the table over - a party of four, two men and two women, and obviously bikers. I advised her to introduce herself and tell the man that God told her to tell him that Jesus loves him. I went to the bathroom to pray and calm my nerves and returned to the table to get the check. As I was paying the bill Kaylinn did what I suggested. There was no response, just smiles and she walked away. My mind tells me this is a pretty ineffective way to share Jesus, but God can use the simplest event to turn a man's heart. What is more important to me is that Kaylinn remain sensitive that small voice and obey when God prompts. On one hand, I am so impressed and at the same time ashamed. My 13 year old daughter can do what I can not.

Great visits - LS
03-23-2007
A week in Phoenix produced a great time with Julie's parents. They fed us practically every night, kept our kids overnight, paid for two rounds of golf and did our laundry. I think weíll stay. We also connected with an old roommate and basketball teammate from college. They invited us to their home for dinner and it was a wonderful time to catch up and for all our kids to play together. As we drove out of their neighborhood, Hudson said, "I want to stay at the house and play with the toys." Next door to Julie's parents is a sweet retired couple. They were missionaries to Australia and Baptist ministers. In recent years they travel to present seminars on emotional freedom, a byproduct of his counseling practice and another on financial freedom. This topic interests me and I hoped before we hit the road again I would have the chance to visit with him about this subject. Not wanting to impose, I asked God to have Mr. Nickel initiate contact with me if he and I were to visit again. When we arrived tonight at the Briansí for dinner, the Nickels were outside doing some yard work. They waved hello and we went inside. I had to come back out to retrieve a load of dirty clothes from the car. The Nickels saw me and waved me over to tell me how impressed they were with our children and commended Julie and me for our efforts. Taking this as an answer to my prayer I asked if I could visit with them about their financial freedom seminar. They welcomed me, and after dinner I walked over to sit down with them. I shared with them our story and that one of the purposes of this trip was to put us in a position to build Godís kingdom. Encouraged, Mr. Nickel shared with me his understanding of the principle of two masters and how debt binds us and gave several examples of how living debt free has multiple benefits. He encouraged us to continue on our path and assured us that the rewards will be eternal. As we began this trip I asked God to send people across our path to teach us what He wants us to learn. This was certainly a divine appointment and I am blessed by it.

Feels like home
03-21-2007
It's been five days since our visit to the caverns, and a lot of "normal" life has taken place. On the day of our departure, Linn washed the exterior of our home while I grocery shopped at a Super WalMart. I tried to get as much school accomplished while we were moving, but every once in a while Linn interrupted with a call for everyone to look out the windows so we wouldn't miss the view. Hudson was thrilled to see lots of trains on the way to Arizona, and we even caught a little bit of an air show when we stopped for lunch in Tucson. We are currently parked in slot 117 out of 254 privately fenced hook-ups. I can't believe how big this place is, and Lin tells me this is small compared to some RV parks. As a matter of fact, there are currently one million "full-timers" living this way all over the U.S., not to mention all those who use RVs for vacations only. I have been thoroughly enlightened by this information. We are 25 minutes away from my parents' house in Dell Webb's Sun City West. We would've stayed closer to them, but many of the RV parks here discriminate against young people! We've spent more time away from the RV here than we have in it, thanks to the gracious hospitality of my folks. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to just be with them and let them enjoy their grandkids for a few days. Sunday morning we went to Mom and Dad's church, Grace Bible. This church is unique among Christian fellowships, because the average member is retired. They do not have a nursery or Sunday School, so when the littlest grandchildren come to visit, they have to sit through the service. Hudson did fairly well, thanks to the model train Grandpa Brian provided. We were welcomed with smiles and a few handshakes, but we were obviously in the minority among all the gray and balding heads. However, this congregation of believers sang out with gusto to the Savior, whom many have served faithfully for longer than I've been alive. And they most certainly do not lack in Spirit-filled, Biblical instruction, as their pastor, Bill Bjork, is also a Bible college professor at Southwestern College in Phoenix. The best part of my Sunday was when I returned for the evening service, which was a special night of music by the choir. Their congregation put BBC to shame for such a Sunday night event. It was a full house, seating about 450 people! I was so blessed by an evening filled with songs of praise to the Creator and Redeemer of mankind. It was a joy to see my parents in the choir, and my mom hadn't even told me she had a solo in her trio. I was compelled to join in when the choir closed with the all-time favorite of Bannockburn's choir, "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name." I couldn't even make it through the Alleluias. I think that's what heaven is going to be like, when we gather with the angels before the Throne of God. The weather here has been unseasonably warm; they're setting records in the high 90s. We went swimming at the recreation center, where kids are only allowed from 10-1. Our kids have entertained themselves by watching the numerous quail and wild bunny rabbits meandering in my parents' back yard from the screened-in porch. And when you step outside, the sweet aroma of orange blossoms permeates the air. However, it is not a citrus scent, but very much like honeysuckle. We plan to spend the next couple of days exploring our campground, and then a couple more days with Grandma and Grandpa Brian. I know our time here will fly by quickly, so I plan to relax and enjoy these treasured moments with them.

Busy Days - LS
03-19-2007
The last few days have been busy with travel and visiting Julie's parents. We left Carlsbad, NM on Friday, March 16th to spend one night in Silver City, NM, named for the silver found in that area in the early 1900's. Before hitting the road, I washed the motorhome for the first time. What a chore - I'd rather do laundry any day. The drive out of Carlsbad required us to re-enter Texas. What a marvelous drive. I had no idea Texas had Mountains like that. Highway 62 runs through the Guadalupe Mountain National Park with a great view of El Capitan, the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet. Had I known this place existed we would have included it as one of our stops. Maybe next time. A single night is Silver City was not enough as there is a great deal of history and much to see. With reservations to keep and family to see we pressed on and arrived at Lake Pleasant RV Resort, northwest of Phoenix on Saturday, March 17th. We would have gladly stayed closer to town, except this is the only RV resort that allows people younger than 55 years old. Julie's parents met us at the resort to lead us to their home, fed us wonderfully and made plans for the rest of the week. Attending Sunday morning worship with them at Grace Bible Church was a blessing. A mention of what we are doing and this congregation of retirees was full of questions about our rig and suggestions of places to see. I never thought I would have so much in common with people a generation older than me. I played golf today with my father-in-law and three other really old guys, while Julie and the kids did some school and went swimming with Grandma Brian. It was a beautiful day, and I enjoyed the golf and company immensely. After another fabulous meal, we played miniature golf, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed and I enjoyed watching them have fun. We will look for more miniature golf opportunities.

March 14, 2007
03-14-2007
March 14, 2007. I turned 42 years old today. I suspect like most men around this age I have done my share of self evaluation. If I am being honest, this year-long trek is largely a result of that evaluation. A culmination of realizations about life pushed me to the point where doing something out of the ordinary seemed easier than continuing in the ordinary. I donít like the term ìmid-life crisisî, but there is a sense of crisis when a man realizes his life is, at best, half over, his children are growing up too fast and his opportunity to make a significant impact is diminishing. In addition to the time and age issues, while Iíve always understood I could not take what I had accumulated with me to eternity, what the AlphaGraphics experience taught me is that I could lose it all before I die. Whether by economic conditions, health or natural disaster, all that we hold dear can be lost in an instant. Faced with that reality, I didnít like how the possibility of losing material possessions affected me. Through a process over several months, which I described to Julie as God scrubbing me with steel wool, I determined I would not hold possessions so dear. They bound my heart, distracted me from my purpose and give a false sense of meaning. Why would I let temporal things be so important? My skin is still raw from the scrubbing, but I think this year is about healing and realigning what is important and what is not. This journey is sort of a crash course in learning how to live with less. Granted it has only been 11 days, but it is really remarkable how little we really need. Please donít misunderstand, Iím not taking a vow of poverty, nor do I believe that is where God is leading. I do believe, however, that my heart has been where my treasure is, so this year will be about moving my treasure to heaven so my heart will follow.

Big God and Big Dogs
03-13-2007
One great benefit to RV life I've discovered is not needing to wear make-up every day. I've only put on make-up three out of the first seven days of our trip, and then only basic stuff - no eye shadow! A low-maintenance girl at heart, this is the life for me! Another funny thing happened that never occurred to me. On Sunday, we set the clocks forward for the time change. Then on Monday, we crossed into the Mountain Time Zone and were right back where we started. I couldn't figure out why I felt ready for bed when the clock said 8:30. That was a long day. If you've read Linn's most recent blog, I only have one thing to say in self-defense. My shoes are only one tenth of the weight of our clothing in that closet! He obviously has a flare for exaggeration in an attempt to be humorous. As a side note to that story, however, I was moved by our youngest daughter, Madison. As soon as we realized we may have to postpone our trip for repairs this early in the journey, she said, "Mommy, we need to pray." I said, "You're absolutely right. Go to it, Prayer Warrior." Right then and there she prayed that the RV would work properly so we could keep going. And I know that God answered that prayer and taught us a lesson at the same time. A highlight of our time in Texas was definitely a visit to the McDonald's Observatory, where we got to see live pictures of the sun (not directly with our eyes, of course). However, we happened to be visiting the observatory at the low point of the 11-year cycle of activity that the sun has, so we didn't get to see any great solar flares or dark spots. They told us to come back in 2011-2012 if we really want to see some amazing things. But even so, the things we learned that day were quite impressive. Our guide told us that we don't know what 95% of the things are out in space that we can view, and we don't know why the universe is expanding exponentially!!! He also talked about how small it makes us feel in comparison to the size of the universe. But he also mentioned something I found very interesting. If you put human beings on a scale from the largest to the smallest things, including the microscopic world, we are right in the middle. Pretty amazing stuff, but I know that's because we have a pretty amazing God. I happen to believe He put all that out there just so we could understand how BIG He is and just be in awe of His power and majesty. We are now in Carlsbad, NM, as Madison has described it, "in the middle of nowhere." Although our view beyond the KOA is nothing but flat, dry land with little bushes, we drove 30 miles to a beautiful spot called Sitting Bull Falls. Click on the pictures, and you'll see the unexpected treasure we found here. There are a whole lot of campers in this particular spot, and I'm amazed at how many of them have their dogs with them. And not just the little dogs you would expect. Shortly after we arrived I saw people getting out of their motorhome with three BIG dogs, two of which were Irish Wolfhounds! Another RV had a boxer tied up outside of it. We all miss Frosty and Blackie, but this thing was not made for man and beast to cohabitate; it barely holds six people. As I'm typing this, Linn is teaching Bronson how to vaccuum, and Hudson is conked out on the couch next to me. I better put this laptop away and help the kids transform our family room back into their bedroom. Being quite fond of "Transformers," Bronson thinks this whole process is pretty cool. One last thing: Linn has been unable to get local channels so we can watch American Idol, so he drove us back into Carlsbad today in search of a cable to hook up to the free service here. But we still were unsuccessful in the attempt to get the proper channel. So I read the first chapter to the novel, Christy, to the girls. I have a feeling that, in the long run, we really won't mind all that much that we missed it.

Want to go home? - LS
03-13-2007
The kids did school this morning while I got some work done. Afterward we packed a lunch, jumped in the car and drove to the Lincoln National Forest to include the Sitting Bull Falls. It was a beautiful setting, so remote I had to wonder how someone found this place. The hike to the viewing platform for the falls was easy and very modern. There was a more rugged hike above the falls that the kids enjoyed. It was not particularly long, but quite steep. Hudson did great considering each step was as high as his waist. The view from the top was outstanding and I am continually struck by God's creativity. On the way back to camp I asked the kids what they thought. They responded with comments like, "It was fun." and "I liked it." Then I asked if they wanted to go home? Almost in unison they responded with a resounding, NO! Another affirmation that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing right now.


03-12-2007
As we began preparing for this adventure one source of great anxiety for me is staying connected. I worry that something might happen and I won't be available to learn about it and respond to it. I don't really know what "it" is, but I was determined to be connected in case "it" happened. If there is a way to be connected I have it: satellite, efax, email, webcam, blackberry, wifi, broadband card, and cell phones. The last four days we have been in the black hole of the Davis Mountain near Fort Davis and I couldn't connect to anything. World War III could have started and I would not have known about it. Tonight we are in Carlsbad, NM and I have connections everywhere, and for whatever reason I feel better. Now if "it" happens I'll probably know about it. This morning as we were breaking camp I was bringing the large slide in and noticed it was getting hung up on something. After walking around looking at the problem and several unsuccessful attempts to bring the slide in I decided to reduce the weight the slide was bearing. You should have seen the look Julie gave me when I told her my plan and asked her to remove her shoes. The best part is it worked. Needless to say when we get to Phoenix we will be shipping a lot of stuff home. I am guilty, too. I brought entirely more clothes than I will need. If Julie writes a counter-blog to this, everything I have said is an accurate account of the events. One week down and 51 to go. While the novelty of it all has not worn off we are learning this is no vacation. We (Julie is) are still cooking, cleaning, schooling, working and playing. In addition to the things I never did at home. In seven days I have vacuumed three times - never mind that it only takes five minutes, emptied the sewer tanks more times than I care to remember and on Saturday I even took the laundry to the laundromat, so Julie could relax. It is funny, I returned all puffed up with pride for this great deed I had accomplished and no one said a word. Feeling a little wounded, I realized Julie does this and more every day and how many times without a thank you. It has been a wonderful week. I am enjoying seeing my kids learn cooperation and putting others first. Kaylinn volunteers to dry the dishes or sleep on the less comfortable side of the bed, and Madison insists on helping Mom with the cooking. And the boys, well they are boys and we may leave them on the side of the road somewhere before it is over.

Small World - JS 03/09/07
03-12-2007
The saying that truth is stranger than fiction is accurate! Yesterday, we left Koyote Ranch and drove six hours west to Fort Davis, Texas. As we drove through the small, mountain town we noticed a green train caboose with the BN logo on it, which stands for Burlington Northern, the railroad company that my dad worked for 35 years. The caboose had been turned into an ice cream shop that served BlueBell, Texasí most famous brand. Since Hudson has a passion for ìchoo-choos,î and since we needed to stop and get our bearings, Linn pulled over. While we were idling on the side of the road, a young woman appeared at our door and knocked. When we opened the door, she said, ìThis is gonna sound crazy, but are you the Strock family?î Having heard about our adventure and registering on our website, she and her mom, who were out for girlsí time together, recognized our vehicle towing a Suburban and took the chance that it was us! She happens to be an interior decorating consultant whom I met in Christel Larsenís neighborhood, just minutes from our old house. To top it all off, her mom knows Sharon Barton! I canít go anywhere in the whole state of Texas without finding someone who knows Sharon.  Itís a small world after all. We hooked up last evening at Prude Guest Ranch, where we plan to trail ride and visit Ft. Davis and the McDonald Observatory. Just before retiring, we stepped outside to gaze up into the night sky and saw the glorious array of stars. The stars always seem so much brighter in the mountains. We can only see a minute portion of the billions of stars in space, yet the Bible says God calls them all by name! This morning Linn and I rose early due to a lack of heat in the RV. After Linn discovered that our propane pilot light was out and relit it, we dressed for the chilly mountain morning and sat outside to spend time reading the Bible and watch the sun rise over the hills. If you have HDTV, it was just like something from Sunrise Earth as the sounds of creation came alive! The gentle cooing of a dove was the first sound to break the silence. Next came the whooshing of wings flapping overhead as a duck quacked out a greeting. Various birds began to join the chorus, including barn swallows, mocking birds, and some little bird that sounded like a dogís squeaky toy. Lastly, a donkey brayed in the distance. David must have had a morning similar to this when he said, ìThis is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.î Psalm 118:24

I saw stars... - LS
03-09-2007
Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. I thought we had stars in Dripping Springs, until I went out side last night to perform the most favored of tasks - emptying the tanks after showers, and to Julie's relief a load of laundry, when I looked up. Wow! is all I could say, and to think He knows them all by name. It is an amazing thing to behold. Our first full day at Prude Ranch included a tour of Fort Davis. We bought our National Park pass so we are good to go. The kids participated in the Junior Ranger program and each received a badge for their efforts. What a great way for them to learn about the park and have fun doing it. Mom and Dad had a little fun too. After lunch Julie, Kaylinn, Madison and Bronson went on a trail ride. Hudson is too little, so I stayed home with him. They did let him ride around the pin though. I'm not too sure if he liked it. Everyone else did, but they were walking kind of funny when they got off the horses. As I type this I have a whole chicken on the grill, I'm connected to the Internet through a Sprint Broadband Card and the kids are riding their bikes around the campground. I wish you could see the smile on my face.

Whirlwind
03-07-2007
Here we are, three days into our journey, and I haven't had time to sit down and process my thoughts since our last weekend in Austin. After our second-to-last Sunday at church, I told Linn our final Sunday would be hard. He replied, "Not for me. The next Sunday will be hard." His words couldn't be more true. We are so blessed to have such wonderful friendships at Bannockburn Baptist Church, and not a Sunday will go by that I won't think of them and pray for God's work among them. At the same time, I anticipate great joy in gathering with brothers and sisters all over the country and experiencing the instant bond we share because of our mutual faith in Jesus. We had a fun night sharing our new home on wheels in the Barton's cul de sac on Sat. night. Sunday morning's service blessed my heart so much, and it was a privilege to sing with the Praise Team one last time. I looked around at people who are so dear to me and took it all in. God has been so good to us at BBC, and I am going to miss worshiping among my family there. Our close friends came by Sunday night and Monday for one last visit before our departure. Thank you, everyone, for your prayers for us! And Pastor Ryan, thank you for coming with your family to pray and send us off. It meant more than you'll ever know. Saying my own personal "so-longs" was difficult enough, but I didn't expect the emotions I would feel at watching our children cry on the day we left town! But the tears passed away shortly, and we began to feel excited as our huge rig moved closer to our first destination. Linn has told you all about our mishap with the GPS, and I will not trust technology so readily next time. One word could describe the first few days in the RV quite well - adjustment. Plus I can already tell we need to get rid of more stuff or, at the very least, reorganize it. I can't remember were I put things, and I haven't figured out where all the light switches on this thing are yet. My mother-in-law gave me great words of advice, too. She told me never to learn what takes place when Linn has to hook up or dump anything, or else it may become my responsibility. We were amused today at the kitchen trash opening in the counter, because it has a draft, and if you try to throw something very lightweight away, it wafts back up like a feather. We'll have to seal off the opening to the outside a little better. I also was somewhat dismayed after our first attempt at school yesterday. But after a good conversation with God this morning, He helped us through today, and there I now have hope that it can be done. We can school on the road. Anyone who knows me well, knows I am a very "square" person - I like to stick to a schedule; I like to grocery shop on the same day every week; I like to follow a plan and check it all off at the end of the day. This is going to be a HUGE lesson in flexibility for me. I am going to have to learn to "go with the flow," as Linn put in Hudson's blog. Already I am freaking out about the laundry. We are out of propane and cannot use the nifty washer and dryer they put on board. It as also taken me much longer to cook dinner, because I have to figure out the best use of space and read instruction manuals on new equipment. Our microwave is a convection oven, and somewhere there is a book to tell me how to cook meals in it. I bought a microwave rice cooker, which worked extremely well for our crock pot beef tips meal tonight. I still praise Mike Hendon every time I make that meal, because he put it in our church's cookbook, and it's the easiest meal on earth to make and quite tasty as well - ALL my kids like it. I also bought an electric skillet at Linn's mom's suggestion, and it is going to be one of my favorite cooking gadgets. And thanks, Mom, for the wonderful coffee maker for two; it has come in so handy on the cool mornings in the hill country. We have thoroughly enjoyed our first few days at Koyote Ranch. God's beauty is all around us in the clear blue sky and the rolling hills. But as the saying goes, "We ain't seen nothin' yet!" Last, but not least, Linn has shown me the incoming e-mails, and you have touched my heart with your encouraging words. Please keep 'em coming!

My first sunrise... - LS
03-06-2007
6:30 in the morning came very quickly. Anyone who knows me also knows there are very few things I will get up early for. Snow skiing and golf are on a very short list, certainly not something as routine as a sunrise. I hit snooze and began the argument with myself about whether to get up or go back to sleep. Sleep won and I rolled over. As I did, through a gap in our shades I saw a brilliant glimmer of pink and I quietly grabbed my clothes, bible and went outside. To the the east the sky was breaking a new day of pink, white, yellow and all shades of blue. To the west a nearly full moon was setting and I sensed God saying this is only a glimpse of what I am going to show you. It has been years since I have opened my bible to read it without the prompting of a sermon or bible study. As I read Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers, the tears flowed from regret for having wasted so much time, and for gratefulness that God loves me anyway. The sun broke over the Texas hill country, the cold got the better of me and I went inside.

Ignition, BLAST OFF! - LS
03-06-2007
The day of our departure finally arrived. With a mad rush to get everything packed away, another round of emotional farewells, picture taking, double checking and triple checking that everything was hooked up, we pulled away from my parents house at 5:00. After the tears stopped flowing and Hudsonís announcement, ìI love my Grandmama!î the sadness of leaving our family and friends behind was replaced with excitement for the adventure ahead. The kids were full of energy, Julie was smiling like a Cheshire cat and I was taking it all in. The owners of Orgeronís Restaurant told us to swing by on our way out and they would fill us up with chicken. We stopped and they did, plus homemade biscuits for breakfast ñ Great food! As I waited for our order I found myself thinking, ìI hope everyone we meet is this nice.î Anxious to get moving we loaded back up and ate on the road. Traveling west on 290, a road I have traveled countless times before, I felt comfortable. It took all of twenty minutes for Bronson to start asking, ìHow much longer?î With a map and GPS system on our laptop, Julie could give a precise response down to the minute or distance remaining. Oh, the miracle of technology. Following the audible instructions of Mrs. G, the voice of the GPS system, we turned left or right as she directed. Our first overnight stay is at Koyote Ranch, near Medina, south of Kerrville. Due to our later than expected departure and our unquestioned faith in technology we arrived at 9:00. A two hour drive turned into four hours. Finding our campsite, hooking up and getting ready for bed brought a new wave of excitement, and for the first time, as we all took turns using the bathroom, I sensed how small this RV is. Still feeling the frustration of our longer-than-expected first leg, and finding that our sewer hose is not long enough, I thought, ìif every day is like this one, it is going to be a long year.î As the kids settled into bed, they began to ask, ìWhat are we going to do tomorrow?î While I didnít have an exact answer, the wonder of what lies ahead returned, and I reprimanded myself for being so easily swayed by such insignificant inconveniences. Hudson stirred at 3:07 a.m. asking for his Mommy, and after getting him settled back to sleep I wanted to get my thoughts down before I forgot. Here I am, sitting up in bed at 4:11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, urgently writing down what has happened in the first twelve hours of our journey, because twenty years from now I will not remember. And, I want to remember. My alarm is set for 6:30 a.m., so I can see the sunrise, the campground store opens at 8:00 with Koffee (with a K), and I plan to be there.

Thank you! - LS
03-04-2007
Our last Sunday for many weeks at Bannockburn proved to be as emotional as I had anticipated. Julie sang with the praise team, which was a blessing, allowing her to focus on worshiping God and not on this being our last Sunday. I was under control until Al Denson, our guest worship leader, asked us to consider what we are thankful for, and led us in singing, "Thank you for loving and setting me free, thank you for giving your life just for me, how I thank you, Jesus I thank you, gratefully thank you." It was a beautiful time of worship and opportunity to think about all that I am thankful for: My wife for being willing to do this, for my kids, for my parents without whose loving support I could not do this, for the Bartons, Larsens, Matejas, Nixons and Rushes for hosting a Bon Voyage party, and for our friends who came to wish us a Bon Voyage, for all the cards, notes and emails of prayers, words of encouragement and expressions of affection. It has all been overwhelming. I am also thankful for this opportunity. As I thought about it today, so much focus has been on the motorhome and the trip. These things are the byproduct of what God has been doing in my heart. A process that has taken place over time, perhaps months, possibly years. Certainly many experiences throughout my life brought me to this point, where doing what God wants is more important than what Linn wants. For most of my Christian walk I believed being a good husband, father, and man of integrity was enough, and while these should not be discounted, I believe today there is more. God wants more from us. Not to indenture us as servants, but to reveal Himself to us as the God who created and loves us. Today, I don't know what else God would have me do, but as I consider the journey ahead with all the beautiful things we will see and experiences we will have, it is the revelation of God's will for my life that I hope for the most. Connie Hendon wrote in a card to us, "As you see the glories of his handiwork, our prayer will be that you will not be able to help yourselves in becoming more devoted followers of Him." May He answer that prayer.

A Letter from my Mom...
03-01-2007
When I first heard of the journey Linn, Julie and the kids were going to take I had a sense of release, of not just letting them go, but a kind of knowing that God was "in" this. There is an expectancy and excitement for all that will happen to them individually and as a family, and the ripple effect as their experiences impact other people. As a mother I am proud to see our son learning to hear God's voice, to trust enough to take steps of obedience, which must require so much courage for a man who takes seriously his responsibility of providing for and protecting his family. I know that God will bless him for pressing on even while having to deal with a lack of understanding or even opposition...not to mention his own trepidation as he took steps of faith required to set this plan in motion. I am amazed at the attention to detail, which I know must have come about in the wee hours of the morning, prompted, I believe, by God's Holy Spirit. Linn has always been creative and had an adventuresome spirit, but some people never dare to do, they only dream. Inside of me I feel like a cheerleader screaming, "Go, Go, Go, You can do it!" Someone said a journey begins with a single step, well when you reach your destination it may be difficult to recall exactly when and where you took that step. Thatís not so important as where you end up and the memories you make on the way. It has been interesting watching yaíll pack what you feel are essentials. I wonder what you will discard along the way and what youíll pick up. Donít worry the Living Bible says in Ps 23:1 ìBecause the Lord is my Shepard I have everything that I needî. What youíll need for sure is His presence (he rides shotgun), His protection (whew, thank goodness for angels), His provision (he knows better than we do what we need and will see to it), His power (you can do all things through Christ), and prayer (I promise to surround you all everyday). Look for Him everywhere, youíll be amazed at places Heíll show up and reveal Himself to you. Listen for His voice; youíll hear Him speak in people you meet, Heíll call to you in the birdsí song, the roar of a waterfall, the laughter of your children, but sweetest of all in that still small voice youíve already been hearing. Let Him amaze you with that beauty He is getting ready to show off and know it is a small thing compared to what Heís preparing. I am oh so grateful for the years weíve lived next door to yaíll. It has been a joy, it has been fun, it has been a comfort and a blessing. I recognize what a special thing weíve had and strange as it seems to me, that is why I open my hands and my heart and say ìFly!î Go with all my love, Mom 2/28/07

What is best? LS
02-23-2007
My Pastor thinks me a girly-man for having read the Mitford series by Jan Karon; nevertheless, the books are full of deep spiritual insights and give any reader encouragement to be a better person through the fictional characters of Mitford. In the last book of the series, Light from Heaven, the main character, Father Tim quotes George McDonald who wrote, ìMan finds it hard to get what he wants because he does not want the best. God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best and man will not take it.î For most of my life I thought I wanted the best and I pursued it. The problem is, what I thought was worthy of my pursuit was not the best, but was the worldís counterfeit. While I still do not fully understand what George McDonald refers to as the ìbestî it is what I hope to come to understand more clearly over the next year. I think the best is less about the quality of my possessions and more about the condition of my heart. The best is being grateful for the least while knowing equity is being built up in heaven. There have been times since we sold our house and bought the motorhome, tonight in particular, that I have questioned my judgment. I worry about the affect this will have on my children, I worry about business, the health of my parents and our safety while traveling. Then I re-read my correspondence with friends and even earlier blog entries and I am reminded and encouraged that this is a worthy venture. With my resolve restored I realize that much of what I worry about cannot be influenced by whether we travel or we stay, so I must trust God to be God, allow Him to sit on the throne of my life and rest in knowing He is in control. When I remember that the primary objective of this trip is to put me and my family in a position to freely say yes to God by not being bound to the things that bind us, all doubt, second guessing and worry goes away.

Where's my stuff? JS
02-22-2007
Our entire house is boxed up and in some storage facility that I haven't even seen. Linn's strategy in organizing the move was to put all of the things we plan to take on the RV into our pump house to keep it separate from the things that needed to go into storage. He also mentioned to me that I needed to get three outfits out to take to his parents' house for until we had the RV loaded and could get to our other clothing items. He then proceeded to move all the boxes from our pump house into his parents' garage. However, none of those boxes were labeled, and they were strewn all over the place, so when I went hunting for things I needed, I didn't even know where to begin to look. And as it turns out, it took us longer to get our stuff into the RV, so I was washing clothes like mad to wear the things I wore just a couple of days ago. So I must apologize to my friends for my lack of fashion sense right now! I couldn't even find my underwear when I needed a clean pair. Plus, as it tends to do in central Texas, the weather decided to go from bitter cold to 80 degrees, so I had to completely change gears and find short-sleeved items for the next few days while our RV is in the shop. Yes, it's brand new and it already needs repairs. We were warned about this, though. That is why we did not leave town right away. We were told to stay near the dealer for about a month. Imagine our shock when they first told us they couldn't service it until the middle of April! So we all got our first taste of what life will be like on the road, as we took the hour-long trip to Georgetown to drop off our home on wheels. I had to unload the fridge and freezer, because they couldn't promise that it would stay hooked up to power while they had it. The kids are enjoying days of no school and too much TV (read Madison's blog), and there is a mad dash to see all our friends and have sleepovers for the kids before we leave town for a year. Hudson, however, is just a little bit unnerved by all the upheaval. A few days ago, he said, "Mommy, I want to go home." He seemed to take my explanation that it's not our home anymore in stride, but he gets a little nervous when I go on errands without him. He seems to want to be by my side a little more than usual, and that's understandable! All his security is wrapped up in his family right now, and he feels most secure when his people are with him. Reflecting back on this week, there have been moments of pure joy - gifts from God for my last couple of weeks in Austin. First, was Praise Team on Monday night. It has been a true privilege to be a part of something so much bigger than me, and Espy, your words blessed me so much. Thank you, sister. My heart soared with gratitude and worship as we sang "In Christ Alone," and "Alive Forever" in preparation for Easter. I know the services will be glorious, and my spirit will be at home with my Bannockburn family wherever we happen to be on Easter Sunday. Secondly, while helping out with piano accompaniment at the last minute in choir on Wednesday night, hearing the choir sing "The Majesty and Glory of His Name" enraptured my soul. If there is any song at all that has embodied what this choir has been for me these 12 years, that one is it, and it blessed me so much last night. Finally, I witnessed the beautiful smile of the precious baby we have all been praying for, a true miracle of grace. Grateful for what is behind, anticipating what lies ahead, I'm learning the lesson that people are so much more important than my things. Julie P.S. The toothfairy has had to come to Grandmama and Papa's house twice in just 11 days, as both Bronson and Madison lost a tooth. Good thing we don't have a mortgage right now! (he he)

4, 3, 2... LS
02-18-2007
Six hours of Motorhome operations training, driving it with our suburban in tow, and trying to figure out where we will pack everything has me worn out. Tomorrow is Presidents Day, I'm off and we hope to finish getting everything that will fit in a place. I say everything that will fit because not everything we set aside to go with us is going to make it. I knew we were in trouble when I saw how many pairs of shoes Julie was planning to bring. It is sort of like Bronson's Bionicles - the more he brings the happier he is. The more shoes, the happier Julie is. It is a small price to pay. So what if I only have room for one pair of underwear and my golf clubs - priorities! For the last few nights Julie and I have been sleeping in the motorhome while the kids are sleeping in Grandmama & Papa's house - hehehe - so we can get acclimated to our smaller quarters and learn how all the equipment works. I guess it is normal for every motothome to have mechanical issues, and while there is nothing major to be done, I am making a list of items in need of repair. We will take it back to the dealer in a few days in hopes that it will be done in time for our March 5th departure.

We're homeless... LS
02-13-2007
Anyone who has moved can understand how we feel - exhausted! Days of packing and moving has left us tired, but relieved to know it is done and the hard work has paid off. We are so glad we started packing back in June when we put the house on the market, and more when we had the original contract in October. If we had not done all of that preliminary work we may not have finished in time or we would be very miserable. Thanks to my parents for all their help with the kids and packing - we couldn't have done it without them. Thanks also to David and Heather Wise, our church's Minister of Music, who moved to Austin in June, and gave us many of their boxes. While I purchased more than what I thought was enough we used practically every box available. We closed today and I'm surprised that I am not sad, but grateful that God has changed my heart, as only He can do, toward our home. It was a wonderful place to live and I appreciate everything we experienced in it. It is no longer what I once clung to, fought for and esteemed above all my possessions. I will miss living next to my parents and being able to watch Hudson run down the path from our house to theirs yelling "Papa!". Tomorrow we pick up the Motor home, and after six hours of operators' training we get to drive it to my parents house, where we will stand on the starting line of what I expect to be a great adventure until the proverbial gun fires and our year long race across America begins on March 5th.

Proverbs 3:5&6 - JS
02-07-2007
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." When Linn told me that Sunday in May that he was ready to trust God and basically begin to learn how to build His kingdom rather than our own, my eyes welled up with tears. We had no idea how it would pan out in terms of obedience, but we did know that we would probably need to sell the house. I was behind him 100% -- that is, until the RV idea entered the equation. I was ready to sell the house and simplify our lives, but I was quite content with my life and didn't want to leave it. As much as I loved the idea of capturing our time with the kids and taking advantage of a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this beautiful country that God made, I was very reluctant to leave the life I had here: my best girlfriends, my family nearby, my church, and my music. In fact, when the house was on the market, I was afraid it would sell so fast, that I wouldn't get to take part in some very special events. And you can bet I talked to God about those things. I especially wanted to take part in a 40th birthday of a friend who had just moved to Austin, be here for the birth of my good friend's baby, and, of course, participate in our Singing Christmas Tree under the direction of our new music minister. I felt like such a little kid, saying to God, "I want, I want, I want..." But I learned something really wonderful about God, too! At times, He knows just what we need, and He blessed me with the gift of all of those things. I am humbled to think that He loves me that much. He truly is a Father who wishes to bless us with good gifts from His hand. And He even timed it so that we could still be here, praying alongside of our church family for healing of our pastor's newborn baby girl undergoing open-heart surgery. Well, now He has determined that it's time to go. And, of course, I have many fears - the biggest one being that we may not come back to Austin, that God may lead us elsewhere. "That's not part of the deal!" my heart cries. But I have also had to lay down MY agenda for God's will, whatever it may be. And ultimately, I will be most satisfied, and He will be most glorified, if I obey His perfect will. So I am ready, come what may, for the road ahead, as long as the Good Shepherd is leading the way! Let the adventure of faith begin.

God knows better than I do - LS
02-05-2007
It seems all the pieces have come together better than I could have planned. Going back to October when we dropped the price on the house and got the contract that fell through in December, had that not happened, we were planning to take the house off the market until this spring. That contract held us through for two months, allowing us to continue packing and prepare for the trip. While we were disappointed it fell through, it allowed us more time in Austin to enjoy the holidays, and it was during this time that I learned about the Montana LLC and no sales tax issues, which has saved us thousands. Had we closed on the original contract we would likely be in Florida right now in the midst of the tornadoes and very nasty weather. God knows better than I do. I've already mentioned that the new contract is higher than the previous one - just another reason the delay was for the best. The delay also allowed me to attend a Father Daughter Ball at our Church last Friday night with Kaylinn and Madison. It was such a special time to dance with them and teach them how they should be treated by a boy on a date. We were also able to talk about the trip. I can tell from the smiles on their faces when we talk about it that they are excited, but Kaylinn said she will miss the Youth Group and Madison said she will miss Grandmama and Papa. I haven't taken the time to consider what I will miss - certainly my parents, my friends, parts of my routine to include work and I suspect our house on those days and nights when 400 square feet feels really, really small. The movers come in a week from today, we close on Tuesday and pick up Six Pack on Wednesday. We plan to hang around Austin for three weeks before hitting the road on March 5th. I told my in-laws this morning that I am oscillating between anxiety and euphoria. I hope I find a place in the middle soon. Laying in bed awake last night I was worrying about what life will be like for us on the road, and wondered if I were making a mistake. I told Julie this is not something you can stick your big toe into before deciding to jump in. Providing grace when I need it, our Father reminded my heart why we are doing this - to have the freedom to say yes to what He would ask us to do. I am absolutely certain this is not a mistake.

7, 6, 5... LS
01-31-2007
We are getting closer. The option period on our house expired yesterday, so we should be closing on February 13th. The movers are scheduled to take our stuff to storage on the 12th, and we plan to take delivery of "Six Pack" on the 14th. Six Pack is what we have decided to call our motor home since it holds six Strocks. The family who is taking our dog, Frosty, came over on Sunday to make sure Frosty gets along with their dog - all is a go. I submitted documents to form the Montana Limited Liability Company today - RV There Yet, LLC. I am also printing note pads to give to friends and family to help remind them to pray for us when they scribble notes on the paper. I think we are going to need lots of prayer. Our biggest areas of anxiety are for safety, both on and off the road. For the people we meet - that God would bring the people across our path that He wants us to meet. For health - if one of us gets ill in a space this small we will all get it. For adjustment to this lifestyle as we go about the daily life of schooling, working, cooking, cleaning, laundry, sleeping and playing that we would find a comfort level and routine that works for us. For persistence - At some point along the way we are going to look at each other and ask ourselves "Why did we do this?", and on that day I hope we will look past the current circumstance, focus on our goals and determine to move on. Almost daily we ask the kids if they are ready for this to try to gage their enthusiasm or lack there of. Nearly each time I ask Bronson it turns into a negotiation for how many toys he can bring. Depending on how big of a box of toys I say he can bring determines how enthused he is. That is where an 8 year old boy lives, so I need to remember each of us has something different that is important to us, and try to find the balance of priority vs. we don't have room. If you want to get a better sense of what we will be living in - copy and paste this link into your browser - http://www.alfaleisure.com/mh/gold/gold_features.html - it will make you scratch your head and wounder if Linn and Julie have lost their minds. Trust me, I'm scratching too.

The Count Down has started - LS
01-27-2007
10, 9, 8... Our counter offer included an "as is" condition, but the buyers wisely had the home inspected on Friday to make sure there are no major issues. The inspection results were thorough, but found nothing that would keep us from moving forward. I was driving the boys home after Bronson's basketball game and told him the news that it looks like we are really going to sell our house, buy a motor home and travel the country for a year. I asked Bronson what he thought of that? He paused, and replied "a little nervous, happy and scared." Laughing I responded "Me Too." Nervous, happy and scared sort of sums it up. I imagine over the days ahead we will all feel these emotions at varying intensity as we work to pack up the rest of the house, give away our pets, move our stuff to storage and go pick up the motor home. With each event that moves us closer to hitting the road, the reality of it all will loom closer in our minds and I expect the emotions will flow. For me, certainly the emotions will be mixed - sad with happy, scared with excited, anxiety with expectation, but I think, on the day we actually set out from here I will be filled with relief. Even now I can feel the largest sigh of relief ever breathed building in my chest. Additionally, I am astonished at so many things - all the details that had to come together to allow this to happen - any one of which could have foiled the plan. Mostly, I am astonished that I am married to a woman who is not only willing, but eager to do this. Julie is perhaps the only person who could have said "Stop, don't do this." and I would have listened. She never said it, she had reservations, she even had conditions, but she always said "Yes, lets do it." Just one of a million reasons I love her.

A big step in the right direction - LS
01-22-2007
On Friday, January 19, 2007 a couple from California came to see our house twice. They made an offer on Saturday, we countered on Sunday and we have a contract with no contingency and at a higher price than the prior contract. It seems God really does know what he is doing. As the excitement builds at the prospect of our adventure, so does the trepidation. With a scheduled close date of February 13th there is still so much to get done. Our intention is to stay in or around Austin for a few weeks to work out any bugs in the RV and iron out the remote workflow processes in my office before hitting the road. I have learned about and am in the process of forming a Montana Limited Liability Company to purchase and register the motorhome through. There is no sales tax or physical vehicle inspection in Montana, so we could save thousands in sales taxes. That has me a little excited.

We are not there yet! - LS
01-15-2007
As I sit in our family room, with a fire in the fireplace, and a winter storm bearing down on central Texas I can't help wishing we were in Key West as our original plans had entailed. Nearly a month ago, on December 17th, the contingent contract on our home fell through. With all the plans and preparations we had made for our journey, it would have been easy to become frustrated, even angry at our circumstances, but to what end? We determined instead to take the house off the market over the holidays, and enjoy Christmas in our home for what will likely be the last time in this house. I am, at times, guilty of wallowing in my disappointment that my plans did not come together as I had hoped, but I mostly find myself excited by waiting to see what God is going to do. Clearly, He desires us to be in Austin a while longer to complete a greater work in us for His glory. Never before in my Christian walk have I been as willing to let God be God in my life as I have been in recent months, and hope to be for the rest of my years. So much of what has motivated me to pursue this year long journey has been to put us in a position to be able to say "yes" to God. My inability or unwillingness to say yes has been largely due to my pride and pursuit of material possessions. The burden of my stuff and pursuit of it has been a wall between God and me that I intend to break down. The sale of our home and moving into a 400 square foot RV will go a long way in teaching us what we can live without. Traveling the country, I hope, will open our eyes to a much bigger world than the comfortable life we have made for ourselves. Reducing our living expenses will allow us the freedom to abundantly give to the needs of others, and to store up treasures in heaven. That is when I will know we are there.

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